An Israeli airstrike has killed the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in US-mediated talks over Gaza’s future as the group’s leaders meet in Cairo to try to hold together a fragile truce with Israel. According to Reuters, Hamas officials said Azzam al-Hayya, the son of senior leader Khalil al-Hayya, died after being wounded in a strike in Gaza City.
He is the fourth son of Hamas’ exiled Gaza chief to have been killed in Israeli attacks.
Despite a ceasefire announced in October, Israeli forces have continued to carry out strikes across Gaza, targeting what they describe as militant positions. Local officials said a separate Israeli strike killed three Hamas-affiliated security personnel at a post in Gaza City.
HAMAS SAYS STRIKES AIMED AT PRESSURING TALKS
Hamas has accused Israel of using targeted killings to influence negotiations and pressure its leadership. The killing of al-Hayya’s son has intensified those claims. “These Zionist attacks and violations clearly indicate that the occupation does not want to abide by a ceasefire or by the first phase,” Khalil al-Hayya said in remarks reported by Reuters.
The group’s spokesperson, Hazem Qassem, said the strategy would not force concessions. “We say that this repeated policy of targeting the leaders and the sons of leaders will not succeed in extorting a political position from our Palestinian people, nor the Hamas leadership, nor its negotiating delegation,” he told Reuters.
Dozens of Palestinians gathered in Gaza for Hayya’s funeral, chanting “Allahu Akbar” and offering prayers before taking his body for burial. Family members echoed that sentiment. “We are like all our people. Everyone has suffered and everyone has sacrificed. We are one of them,” al-Hayya’s daughter said.
TALKS STALL OVER HAMAS DISARMAMENT
Negotiations linked to a US-backed plan remain deadlocked over major issues, particularly Hamas disarmament and Israel’s military presence in Gaza. Trump’s Gaza plan, agreed to by Israel and Hamas in October, calls for Israeli troops to withdraw from Gaza while reconstruction begins, with Hamas expected to give up its weapons.
Hamas officials have said they will not move to the next phase of talks until Israel meets earlier commitments, including halting attacks and allowing increased humanitarian aid. The killing comes as Hamas leaders and other Palestinian factions meet mediators in Cairo this week, along with envoy Nickolay Mladenov, to move Trump’s Gaza plan into its next phase, officials said.
The conflict, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has led to tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza and widespread destruction. At least 830 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, according to local medics.
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With inputs from agencies
