Mediators from Egypt and Qatar have informed Israeli officials that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, is seeking a ceasefire agreement to end the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to an Israeli source familiar with the matter who spoke to CNN.
However, the source added, “No one knows what Bibi wants,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his nickname. The same source mentioned that American officials have urged their Israeli counterparts to reach an agreement immediately to prevent the conflict from escalating into a regional war.
The Israeli government has agreed to resume talks next Thursday, August 15, with the aim of declaring a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. This decision follows interventions by the mediating countries—the United States, Egypt, and Qatar—who warned the warring parties that “there is no time to waste nor any excuse” for further delays.
CNN’s report comes a day after the tragic loss of lives caused by an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City, which the Israeli military claimed was a “command center” for Hamas “terrorists.”
Additionally, many analysts believe that the selection of Yahya Sinwar—one of the most wanted individuals in Israel, who is considered by Israel to be one of the masterminds behind the October 7 attack—as the new leader of Hamas following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Iran (an act attributed to Israel by its enemies) has further complicated indirect negotiations.
