Hamas denies having called for a halt to hostage negotiations after the IDF attack on Deif and claims: “Mohammed Deif is alive”

Following reports in Israeli and international media that the terrorist group Hamas had broken off negotiations for a ceasefire over the hostage case related to the IDF attack on Mohammed Deif on Saturday, the group released a statement denying the claims.

“The statements published by the French news agency and circulated by some media outlets about a decision by the Hamas movement to break off negotiations in response to the Al-Mawasi massacre west of Khan Younis are completely unfounded,” Hamas said in a statement.

The terrorist group also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of trying to prevent an agreement with the attack.

“One of the goals of this Nazi escalation against our people by Netanyahu and his Nazi government is to block the path to an agreement that will end the aggression against our people, which has become clear to everyone,” the statement continued.

Earlier, the news channel AFP (Agence France-Presse) reported that a Hamas representative had told the agency that Hamas would withdraw from the negotiations following the IDF attack in Khan Younis on Saturday afternoon.

The official told AFP: “Ismail Haniyeh informed the mediators that Hamas had decided to break off the talks because of Israel’s lack of seriousness, its policy of delay and continued interference, and the massacres of unarmed civilians.”

The official also denied reports that Deif was killed in the attack.

“Deif is alive and in good condition,” said the unnamed Hamas official. “Deif is monitoring the activities of Hamas’ military wing in a good and direct manner.”

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha told the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadid that “the Egyptian and Qatari mediators are working to establish a permanent ceasefire” and claimed that “all the mediators know who is hindering the negotiations,” apparently referring to Netanyahu.

On Saturday evening, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that Israeli negotiators believe that the attempted assassination of Mohammed Deif could lead to a temporary halt in the negotiations. However, the negotiators believe that the publication of such a statement by Hamas should be viewed as an image-building statement and would not lead to a complete suspension of the talks.

Reuters also reported on Saturday evening that two Egyptian officials had told the news agency that the hostage negotiations had been halted.

Einav Zangaukar, the mother of hostage Matan, regretted that the attack came when a hostage deal seemed close to being finalized.

“The timing of the operation, when we are close to a deal, could affect our chances of retrieving the abductees. The liquidation of Deif must not become the liquidation of the deal,” she said.

She called on Netanyahu to remove obstacles to a hostage deal.

“It is your duty to resume talks, to convene the cabinet and to assure the mediators that you will remove the obstacles you have put in place,” Zangauker said. “If the agreement does not come to fruition, you will forever be remembered as the person who sentenced to death the citizens you abandoned so that you could stay in office.”

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim also condemned the attack, telling Al Jazeera: “Every time we come close to an agreement, Netanyahu commits a new crime” against the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, Deif’s death still needs to be confirmedThe London-based Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported that the death of his deputy Rafa Salameh in the attack had been confirmed. According to the report, his body was immediately recovered from the impact site and buried shortly afterwards.