A representative of Hamas has told US media that the group will not attend Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel planned for Thursday.
Calls have been made for the resumption of talks for a ceasefire deal. Israel has expressed its willingness to participate.
CBS News on Tuesday quoted the Hamas representative as saying the group is not opposed to negotiations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government rejected an earlier proposal and imposed new conditions.
The outlet also reported that the representative accused Israel of assassinating his group’s leader in the Iranian capital of Tehran last month.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel over the killing. Washington said Iran and its proxies could take action as early as this week.
Iran has also said that its “response will be timed and conducted in a manner not to the detriment of the potential ceasefire.”
Reuters news agency quoted multiple Iranian officials as saying only a ceasefire deal would hold Tehran back from direct retaliation against Israel.
Authorities in Gaza said the death toll in the enclave is approaching 40,000. With the resumption of negotiations still uncertain, attention is focused on how Iran will act.