Hamas Political Bureau Chairman Ismail Haniyeh warned on Monday of resetting negotiations to "square one" because of the Israeli army's escalation of military operations in Gaza City and its demand for the evacuation of residents.
Haniyeh reached out to mediators, stressing that the increasing intensity of Israeli attacks on civilians in Gaza could potentially lead to a complete reset of the ongoing negotiations. He further held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli army fully responsible for any potential collapse that may occur as a result.
Nonetheless, Israel expanded its list of demands for a ceasefire, even after reports suggested that Hamas had agreed to the US-backed proposal for a phased truce and hostage exchange in Gaza. Mediators from the US allegedly landed in Cairo earlier in the day for another round of negotiations.
