Gaza Truce Talks Haven't Paused Says Hamas, Claims Military Chief Deif Survived Israeli Strikes Targeting Him

Earlier, Hamas had said that the group halted truce negotiations due to Israel's "ongoing massacres against unarmed civilians". The militant group also said that Deif, the military chief, is healthy.

A senior Hamas official said that the group has withdrawn from Gaza truce talks due to Israel's ongoing "massacres". (Image used for representational purpose only)

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After the recent air strikes on the Al-Mawasi camp on July 13, Hamas stated on Sunday that the group's military commander, Mohammed Deif is in good health. This comes after Isarel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "uncertainity" over whether the strikes aimed at Deif killed him or not. news agency Associated Press reported. 

"Israel attacked Gaza today in an attempt to eliminate Mohammed Deif and his deputy, Rafa Salama," Netanyahu said at a press conference, hours after the attack on Al-Mawasi. "There is no certainty that the two were eliminated," he added.

Besides this, Hamas rejected the idea that the cease-fire talks mediated by international nations including Egypt and Qatar were suspended, AP reported.

Earlier today, Palestinian militant group stated that it had withdrawn from talks regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza war due to the Israeli "massacres" and the country's attitude in negotiations, AFP reported.

Hamas Spokesperson Jihad Taha told AP, "there is no doubt that the horrific massacres will impact any efforts in the negotiations” but added that “efforts and endeavors of the mediators remain ongoing."

Political officials of Hamas stressed that the communication channels remained functional inside and outside Gaza, even after the recent strike in the sourthern region.

Netanyahu had said that all the Hamas leaders are "marked for death" and affirmed that killing them would take Hamas closer to accepting a ceasefire deal, AP reported.

Hamas Claimed Talks Paused Over Israel's Lack Of Seriousness

Another official stated that Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas political leader, told international mediators Qatar and Egypt about the group's decision of putting an end to the talks on a ceasefire plan, which was first outlined by US President Joe Biden in May.

Haniyeh said that 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."

As per the report, a Hamas official stated that the group's military leader Mohammed Deif was "fine" despite Israel's attack on a southern Gaza camp, which it said was aimed at targetting the wanted Hamas commander.

Al-Mawasi Strikes Aimed At Killing Hamas Military Chief Deif

Israel considers Deif as one of the "masterminds" of the October 7 attacks. It said that he was the target of the strikes on the Al-Mawasi camp, where thousands of displaced Palestinians from other districts had taken refuge.

However, Hamas said that Deif was alive and working, without confirming whether he was present at the camp.

The health ministry of Gaza said the attack on the Al-Mawasi camp in Southern Gaza killed around 92 people.

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

The first phase of the truce deal, includes a six-week ceasefire along with an exchange of most of the hostages taken in Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7 last year, for Palestinian prisoners lodged in Israeli jails.

Haniyeh in a statement said that Hamas had shown great flexibility in order to arrive at an agreement to put an end to the aggression.

He said it is ready to resume negotiations after Israel shows seriousness in reaching a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal, AFP reported.

Haniyeh also said he had called the mediators and other countries, urging them to pressurise Israel to stop the attacks.