Hamas Accuses Israel Of Sabotage Of Ceasefire Negotiations In Qatar

JAKARTA - The head of the political bureau Hamas Ismail Haniyeh accused Israel of deliberately sabotaging ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Qatar, by targeting police officers and government agencies in the Gaza Strip.

The head of police operations in Gaza Brigadier General Fayeq al-Mabhouh was killed on Monday (18/3), in an Israeli attack on Al-Ahifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Al-Mabhouh is responsible for coordinating the entry of humanitarian aid with Palestinian tribes and the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) to the northern Gaza Strip, according to a statement by Gaza's Media office.

Israel's actions targeted police officers and government agencies in Gaza, according to Haniyeh, described Tel Aviv's efforts to spread chaos and perpetuate bloodshed in the Palestinian enclave.

"This also reflects the efforts of the colonial leaders to sabotage the negotiations that took place in Doha," he said as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, March 20.

Haniyeh said the action would not succeed in the success of Israel's criminal plan.

"Hamas will remain committed to the rights of our people and their clear demands to stop aggression, withdraw troops (Israel), and repatriate refugees," he said.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas - mediated by Qatar, Egypt, United States - continue in Doha and take place amid the Israeli war that destroyed Gaza for nearly six months.

Israel has launched a deadly military offensive in Gaza since the cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 victims.

More than 31,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, died in the enclave, and nearly 74,000 people were injured in mass destruction and lack of basic necessities.

The Israeli war has forced 85 percent of Gaza's population to flee amid a blockade that crippled most food supplies, clean water, and medicines.

Meanwhile, 60 percent of infrastructure in the enclave has been damaged or destroyed, according to the United Nations.

Israel is accused of committing genocide in the International Court (ICJ).

In a temporary ruling read last January, the International Court ordered Israel to stop genocide and take action to ensure that humanitarian aid was distributed to civilians in Gaza.