Hamas Official Calls US Optimism on Gaza Ceasefire Talks an 'Illusion'

Photo : AFP

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has dismissed recent US optimism regarding a potential Gaza ceasefire as "an illusion." In a statement to AFP, Abu Zuhri criticized US President Joe Biden's comments suggesting that a deal is imminent, stating that the current discussions do not represent genuine negotiations but rather the imposition of American demands.

The remarks come after President Biden's statement on Friday that "we are closer than we have ever been" to reaching a truce. Biden's comments followed two days of negotiations in Qatar, where the US attempted to mediate between Israel and Hamas, who have been engaged in conflict for over 10 months.

Abu Zuhri's criticism highlights the ongoing skepticism surrounding the ceasefire efforts. He accused the US of imposing conditions rather than facilitating a fair negotiation process. This sentiment reflects broader discontent among Hamas officials with what they view as biased mediation efforts.

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In response to Biden's optimism, Hamas has expressed dissatisfaction with the latest proposals, which they claim include new conditions from Israel. The Israeli delegation, however, has shown "cautious optimism" about the prospects for an agreement, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

International mediators, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, are working to finalize a ceasefire framework. Blinken is expected to return to the region this weekend to push for a resolution. The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy have also called for all parties to engage positively and flexibly in the negotiations to avoid further escalation.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties and damage. In Gaza, the Israeli military has conducted strikes targeting Hamas infrastructure. Recent airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon have resulted in numerous casualties. In Gaza, an Israeli airstrike killed 15 members of a single family, raising the death toll in the region to 40,074. In southern Lebanon, an Israeli strike killed 10 Syrians, including a woman and her children.

The United Nations has appealed for temporary pauses in fighting to allow for the vaccination of children against polio, following the detection of Gaza's first polio case in 25 years.

The conflict, which began with Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, has resulted in significant losses on both sides. To date, 1,198 people have died in Israel, including 332 soldiers, and 251 hostages have been seized by Hamas, with 111 still held in Gaza. The Israeli military reports that 332 soldiers have died since the start of the ground offensive on October 27.

Efforts to reach a ceasefire are ongoing, with mediators working towards a framework agreement initially proposed by Biden in May. Meanwhile, thousands of civilians in Gaza are being displaced due to ongoing military actions and evacuation orders, as Israeli forces continue their operations in the region.

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