Hamas group 'turns back' on new negotiations, France-Germany-UK issue joint statement, US Vice President makes demands on Israel

As mediating countries attempt to push for reconciliation talks over the situation in the Gaza Strip on August 15, the Hamas movement issued a statement on its decision.

Hamas will not participate in talks with Israel on a ceasefire in the conflict in the Gaza Strip on August 15. (Source: Getty Images)

According to the AP news agency, on August 11, representatives of the Hamas movement said that they have no plans to send a delegation to participate in reconciliation talks with Israel on a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement scheduled to take place in Cairo (Egypt) or Doha (Qatar) on August 15.

They asked the mediators to present a plan to implement what the movement agreed to in talks on July 2, based on US President Joe Biden's vision and a UN Security Council resolution, instead of launching new negotiations to reach an agreement.

“Mediators should implement this plan for Israel instead of pursuing further rounds of negotiations or new proposals that could cover up the occupation forces’ actions and give them more time to continue their war against our people,” the statement from the movement in the Gaza Strip said.

Last week, President Biden, along with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, issued a joint statement calling on Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and hostage release deal that is currently under discussion.

The US, Egypt and Qatar have called on Israel and Hamas to restart negotiations in Cairo or Doha on August 15 to finalize the final details and begin implementing the agreement.

On August 9, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that it would send a delegation to participate in the negotiations "to finalize the details of the implementation of the framework agreement" regarding the ceasefire and hostage exchange.

So far, several rounds of talks on a ceasefire in Gaza have failed, except for a week-long ceasefire that was observed at the end of November 2023.

Meanwhile, on August 12, AFP news agency reported that the leaders of France, Germany and Britain issued a joint statement stressing that "there can be no further delay" in negotiating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while warning Iran and its allies against any "further escalation" in the conflict.

"The fighting must end immediately and all hostages held by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unhindered aid delivery. There can be no more delays," the joint statement said.

The three leaders welcomed the "tireless" efforts of Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators towards a ceasefire and hostage release.

In a development related to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, on August 11, speaking at a campaign event in Phoenix, Arizona, US Vice President Kamala Harris mentioned the Israeli attack the day before on al-Tabin school, one of the temporary shelters for thousands of evacuees in Gaza City, which killed more than 100 Palestinians and injured dozens of others.

She said that “too many civilians died” in the attack, stressing that Israel had an “important responsibility” to limit civilian casualties.

According to the Democratic presidential candidate, Ms. Harris affirmed that the top priority of the current Washington administration is to push the parties involved to reach an agreement on releasing the hostages and reaching a ceasefire agreement.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/xung-dot-o-gaza-nhom-hamas-quay-lung-voi-dam-phan-moi-phap-duc-anh-ra-tuyen-bo-chung-pho-tong-thong-my-neu-yeu-cau-voi-israel-282288.html