Hamas Delays Ceasefire Deal

Despite Joe Biden’s optimism, there are still major problems with the widely hoped-for ceasefire deal. A Hamas delegation has joined Americans, Qataris and Egyptians in Cairo but Israel has not sent a delegation.

The Israelis have asked for a list of hostages that are still alive. But on Saturday night they received a call from the Qatari Prime Minister saying that Hamas have not agreed to meet this request. As a result, unidentified Israeli officials say:

"Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore
there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation."

Some reports indicate that Hamas’ leader in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, has been out of contact for the last week and that is preventing receipt of this information. But others suspect that he has decided to keep the fighting going.

He is reported to have told fellow Hamas officials that the increasing Gazan civilian casualties will intensify international pressure on Israel to halt its military campaign. The humanitarian crisis and destruction in Gaza are testing Israel’s relations with the US and its other allies.

Rami Igra, former head of Mossad’s MIA Unit, agrees that this is the Hamas strategy, saying:

"The situation is such that Hamas is enjoying the catastrophe.
It is, feeding the fire, so to say."

Here is the full interview from i24 News: