12-4-2024 (GAZA) Amidst the simmering conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has vowed to continue pursuing a deal for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages, despite a recent Israeli strike that claimed the lives of three of his sons. Speaking in Qatar while receiving condolences, Haniyeh emphasized that “the interests of the Palestinian people are placed above everything.”
When questioned about whether the strike, which occurred on Wednesday in Gaza, would impact the ongoing talks, the Hamas chief declared, “We are seeking to reach a deal, but the occupation is still procrastinating and evading a response to the demands.”
Israeli media reports suggest that the attack that killed Haniyeh’s sons – Amir, Mohammad, and Hazem – was carried out without authorization from top military commanders or senior political leaders, raising fears among families of Israeli hostages that it could derail efforts to secure their release from Gaza.
“I can only hope this won’t affect the negotiation. I hope it won’t make Hamas put harder conditions on the deal,” lamented Ofri Bibas Levy, whose brother Yarden Bibas was captured along with his wife and two young children during a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7th.
Israel’s government has faced mounting pressure from families of the 133 Israeli hostages believed to be held in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, even as talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have yet to yield a breakthrough.
In a statement, Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua reiterated the group’s demands, stating, “The key to any agreement with the occupation starts with a permanent ceasefire, and our top priority in the ongoing negotiation process is the unconditional return of the displaced and the complete withdrawal of forces from the Gaza Strip. Without that, an agreement will not happen.”
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has faced mounting criticism from its main ally, the United States, over the conduct of its military campaign and the chain of command in pursuing its objectives. This scrutiny has been fueled by the rising number of Palestinian civilian casualties and exacerbated by recent strikes that claimed the lives of foreign and Palestinian aid workers in Gaza.
Reports from Israeli news outlets suggest that neither Netanyahu nor Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were informed in advance of Wednesday’s strike on Haniyeh’s sons, which was coordinated by the Israeli military and the Shin Bet intelligence service. Senior Israeli officials quoted in the reports claimed that the three adult sons were targeted as fighters, not because of their familial ties to Hamas’s political leader.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the reports, including allegations that four of Haniyeh’s grandchildren were also killed in the strike.
Haniyeh, 61, refuted the claims that his sons were active Hamas fighters, telling Reuters, “These claims are lies to justify this crime and massacre. They were going on Eid day visiting relatives,” referring to the Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
As global calls for a ceasefire intensify, with the conflict entering its seventh month, there has been little sign of progress in the talks. Hamas is demanding an end to the Israeli offensive, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and permission for Gaza’s displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
Israel, on the other hand, seeks to secure the return of the hostages but maintains that it will not end the war until Hamas is destroyed as a military force. The Israeli government has also indicated plans to assault the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million civilians have taken refuge.
