Hamas is not responding to efforts to get the talks back on track

CNN
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Hamas is not responsible for doing things was made in recent days to try to restart the negotiations of the exilea source familiar with the efforts told CNN, while the US and other negotiators are trying to re-establish talks that may see more people kidnapped on October 7. be released from captivity.

Qatar – continues to play the role of negotiator – delivered to Hamas new ideas to try to increase the number of people who were taken from Gazaincluding an agreement that could include the release of not only the remaining women, but also the men, according to one source familiar with the effort and a senior US official.

“There is no active negotiation, but there is a real analysis of ideas for how to use this,” said a senior American official.

But Hamas did not respond to the outreach, which is the usual story.

Qatar has talked with the political officials of Hamas in Gaza and then they sent messages to the leaders of the group in the group which is trying hard to avoid being captured by Israel. US officials said that getting answers from Hamas was a very difficult process in the first round of negotiations that led to the release of a series of hostages. It may now be more difficult for Hamas leaders to engage in dialogue because of Israel’s focus on targeting them.

At the same time, Israel, which resumed its military operation against Hamas after seven days, believes that its attack on the south of Gaza – especially Khan Younis – should be intensified. Hamas may help free more detainees, sources say. Some US officials agree that military force may have the effect of bringing Hamas back to the negotiating table.

“It may be time for Hamas to reconsider coming back to the table in a real way,” the senior US official said.

Since talks held in the Qatari capital of Doha broke down earlier this month, formal negotiations have not resumed. But Israel, the United States and Qatar continue to discuss ways to try to restart talks, multiple sources said, and more than 100 detainees are believed to be still being held in Gas. “We haven’t stopped,” said one source familiar with the discussions.

The Israeli prime minister’s office believes that 135 detainees remain in Gaza, 116 of whom are still alive.

Israel’s view that Hamas should first release the remaining female detainees remains unchanged, according to sources. Hamas has denied doing so, arguing that the remaining women are considered soldiers – a claim Israel denies.

The White House said eight Americans — seven men and one woman — remain unaccounted for.

The apparent lack of progress in freeing the detainees comes as President Joe Biden prepares to meet in person for the first time with some of the families of American detainees today. Shake the White House.

Meanwhile, Israel has announced to the US that it has begun to “carefully study” the flooding of some of Hamas’s canals into the sea “on a limited basis” to see if it will work to destroy it. the group’s bridge on a large scale. Israel has assured their American counterparts that they are doing this in tunnels they do not believe are holding people.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Biden said he had heard “information” that no people were currently detained at those bridges, but his administration could not confirm that. that without a doubt: “I don’t know about that. It’s a fact,” he said.