Sinwar demands halt to 'Israeli' military operations before Hamas negotiations

The Wall Street Journal reported that Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, has sent a message to mediators stating that if Israeli Occupation is serious about negotiations and wishes to engage with Hamas, it must first halt its military operations in Gaza.

The message was conveyed to Arab mediators on Monday evening.

The newspaper noted that it is unlikely Israeli Occupation will agree to this demand, as it has previously declared its commitment to achieving its main objectives: defeating Hamas and securing the return of captives.

In the current context, the United States is pushing for a new round of ceasefire talks between Israeli Occupation and Hamas this week in a final effort to achieve calm in the Gaza Strip and free captives after more than 10 months of the aggression.

Negotiations between the two sides have stalled for several months amidst mutual accusations. The US is expected to send a team of senior officials to the region this week to overcome obstacles and reach an agreement, particularly given ongoing tensions and the possibility of Iranian escalation.

The US, along with Egypt and Qatar, has called for the resumption of talks on Thursday, indicating its willingness to offer new proposals to address remaining gaps if necessary.

The US confirmed that Israeli Occupation welcomed the invitation, but Hamas has not yet issued an official response regarding its participation.