Report-Gaza Ceasefire Talks In 'Dark Tunnel' After Haniyeh Killing

UAE-based The National reportsthat according to its sources, talks on a ceasefire in Gaza have entered a 'dark tunnel' following the killing of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this week. The National: ""The negotiations are now not just in a dark tunnel, but they have actually died a clinical death," one source said. Another source said: "No one can now tell you what comes next." A Hamas official said earlier that the group will start discussing the fate of the talks after “a week or two”."

• The National: "“The Gaza and hostage negotiations, after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, cannot now be put up for discussion or resumption before a week or two,” the member of Hamas's political leadership told The National. Israel "does not want to complete the deal", he added."
• As we noted earlier (see 'ISRAEL: Biden To PM: Accept Ceasefire Deal; Says Haniyeh Killing Doesn't Help', 0957BST) the Israeli gov't is under increasing pressure from its allies to reach a ceasefire agreement. However, with The National's report seemingly indicating that Hamas is now set to to turn away from talks - with the added uncertainty of it being unclear who will lead and subsequent negoations - the prospect of an agreement in the near term appears slim.