Central Hamas Considering The Sustainability Of Ceasefire Negotiations

Yahya Sinwar. (Source: IRNA)

JAKARTA - Hamas is "studying" calls from Egyptian, Qatar and US mediators to continue ceasefire negotiations, Palestinian political sources involved in the negotiations said.

The source close to Hamas said the Palestinian militant group was trying to identify a "new position" given the recent leadership changes.

That refers to the appointment of Yahya Sinwar as Head of Political Bureau, replacing the late Ismail Haniyeh who was killed in Tehran, Iran.

"Hamas is studying proposals to continue negotiations and at the same time working on documents outlining its new position regarding all aspects of potential deals," the source told The National, as quoted August 9.

Meanwhile, a member of the political bureau Hamas, who declined to comment on what the final decision would be, confirmed the group was studying the proposal.

Earlier, the US, Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement on Thursday, asking Israel and Hamas to continue ceasefire negotiations in Doha or Cairo on August 15.

However, the deepening distrust since the killing of Haniyeh, with the appointment of Sinwar, could complicate efforts to reach an agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said negotiators from the country would attend the negotiations. However, PM Netanyahu warned in an interview that the war in Gaza would continue, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.

"Meanwhile, Sinwar has conveyed to Egyptian mediator his uncompromised attitude towards the debated points," the source told The National.

The terms include the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of well-known Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement to end the war.