US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has recently reached out to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to urge the militant group Hamas to participate in upcoming peace talks. These indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, thanks to US intervention.
Alongside the US, representatives from Qatar and Egypt will also be part of the discussions. Blinken’s call to Turkey early on Tuesday highlighted the critical need for these peace talks to proceed. Turkey maintains strong relations with Hamas, with many senior Hamas leaders residing in the country.
The recent escalation in the Middle East, particularly following the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Head Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, has heightened tensions and the possibility of an impending attack on Israel. This situation has prompted the US to push for indirect negotiations.
Despite the US efforts, Hamas has expressed reservations about attending the talks. They have requested that the mediators build on previous agreements rather than starting a new round of discussions.
US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel has expressed confidence that the talks will proceed and that a resolution is expected. However, Patel did not provide details on how the talks will continue if Hamas does not participate.
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