The latest round of ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Doha has collapsed and ended in anger and finger-pointing, with the the Israeli delegation reportedly packing up and leaving in haste. This point marks several rounds of failed talks.
A senior Israeli official has declared that efforts toward a truce are "at a dead end" due to unrealistic demands by Hamas. The official further accused Hamas' Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar of sabotaging diplomatic efforts "as part of a wider effort to inflame this war over Ramadan," accordingto Reuters. This brings to an end this latest round of ten days of talks.
Netanyahu's office repeated its assertion on Tuesday that Hamas had made "delusional" demands, something which has continually stalled talks and prevented any progress. The Israeli statement vowed that it will not address "Hamas's delusional demands" but will "pursue and achieve its just war objectives."
Netanyahu also brought the US into it, lashing out in the following:
Hamas’s decision to reject a US-brokered compromise is “clear proof it is not interested in continuing talks, and a sad testament to the damage caused by the UN Security Council resolution,” referring to a call for a ceasefire passed Monday night that the US did not veto, thus enabling its passage.
Hamas has levelled a similar charge at Israel, saying the prime minister is only interested in prolonging the military operation in Gaza. Netanyahu has for weeks made his position clear that any Hamas condition of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza which is made part of a hostage release deal remains a non-starter.
Tensions and finger-pointing between the Biden administration and Israel have been on the rise. According to Axios in the wake of the truce talks collapse, "The Israeli statement angered the White House, which sees it as an attempt by Netanyahu to continue the fight that started the day before between the U.S. and Israel over the UN Security Council resolution, two senior U.S. official said."
The UNSC has just passed a formal resolution calling for immediate ceasefire, and its adoption was enabled by the US abstention, which infuriated Israel. Commenting on the Israeli statement and reaction, one US official state: "This statement is inaccurate in almost every respect and unfair to the hostages and their families."
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