Senior Hamas Official Says Group Withdraws From Gaza Truce Talks

Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories: A senior Hamas official told AFP Sunday that the group has withdrawn from talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza war because of Israeli "massacres" and its attitude in negotiations.

Another Hamas official said the group's military leader Mohammed Deif was "fine" and working despite Israel's huge bomb attack on a southern Gaza camp that it said targeted the Hamas commander.
Gaza's health ministry said the attack left 92 dead.

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh told international mediators of the end of the talks on a ceasefire plan first outlined by US President Joe Biden in May, according to the senior official.

Haniyeh said Hamas would "halt negotiations due to the occupation's (Israel) lack of seriousness, continued policy of procrastination and obstruction, and the ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians," according to the official.

"Hamas has shown great flexibility to reach an agreement and end the aggression and is ready to resume negotiations when the occupation government demonstrates seriousness in reaching a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal.”

Haniyeh said in a statement late Saturday that he had called the mediators and other countries to urge them to put pressure on Israel to halt the attacks.

"Commander Mohammed Deif is well and directly overseeing Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades and resistance operations," the official said, referring to Hamas's armed wing.

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