Hamas and Islamic Jihad Leaders Convene in Doha Amid Ongoing Israeli Offensive

According to SAEDNEWS, In light of the persistent Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip, senior leaders of two prominent Palestinian resistance movements, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, gathered in Doha, Qatar, on August 21 to discuss crucial political and military developments.

The meeting, held at Hamas' headquarters, included Mohammad Darwish, chairman of Hamas’ Shura Council, and Ziyad al-Nakhala, secretary general of Islamic Jihad, along with his deputy, Mohammad al-Hindi. The discussions focused on the "ongoing war of genocide against the coastal sliver" and emphasized the urgent need to halt the aggression targeting the Palestinian people. A statement from Hamas highlighted that participants “emphasized the necessity of stopping the aggression and war being waged against our people and holding the officials of the occupation accountable for their crimes against humanity.”

Since October of last year, the Israeli regime has been conducting military operations in Gaza in response to a retaliatory attack from Palestinian resistance groups. The relentless assault has resulted in the deaths of at least 40,223 Palestinians, primarily women and children, and left approximately 92,981 others injured amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.

In a related development, Israeli forces bombed Salah Al-Din School in Gaza City, contributing to a soaring death toll that has now surpassed 40,200, according to the Health Ministry.

During their meeting, resistance leaders also discussed the "steadfastness of the resistance" and its ongoing capabilities to strike across "all occupied Palestine." The officials highlighted coordinated operations carried out by resistance groups from Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen, demonstrating solidarity with the besieged Gazans.

Negotiations aimed at potentially establishing a truce were another focal point of the discussions. The leaders held the Israeli regime accountable for obstructing mediation efforts, accusing it of continuing its aggression and failing to uphold previous agreements, notably a proposal accepted by Hamas in July.

On July 2, Hamas announced its agreement to a proposal from US President Joe Biden’s administration, which included terms for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the initiation of reconstruction efforts. However, the Israeli regime subsequently rejected this plan and introduced new conditions, such as maintaining its military presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Hamas leaders affirmed that any future agreement must guarantee a full cessation of hostilities and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Furthermore, it should include plans for reconstructing the territory and lifting the ongoing siege imposed by Israel.

Participants in the Doha meeting stressed the importance of ensuring the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, regardless of the outcome of indirect negotiations. They cautioned against the consequences of the ongoing collective punishments inflicted by the Israeli regime on the Gazan population.