The recent assassination of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is expected to further complicate the already stalled negotiations aimed at reaching a truce between Israel and the Palestinian armed group, according to officials and analysts.
Israel and Hamas have been engaged in months of discussions regarding a cease-fire proposal, which includes the release of 115 hostages, both alive and deceased, still held in Gaza. The mediation efforts have been led by Qatar and Egypt, with the United States also playing a role in the negotiations.
While Ismail Haniyeh was a key figure in the talks, advocating for progress in reaching a cease-fire deal on behalf of Hamas, his influence within the organization was somewhat limited. Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza, holds significant power and has the final say on any cease-fire agreement due to his control on the ground in the enclave, as stated by U.S. and Israeli officials.
The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh is likely to halt the negotiations temporarily, as Hamas regroups and formulates a response to the attack. Cease-fire discussions between Israel and Hamas were already facing challenges, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introducing new demands ahead of a recent meeting involving Israeli, Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. intelligence officials, which did not yield significant progress.
