Israel attack during negotiations; Son of Hamas negotiator killed

According to Hamas, Azam al-Hayya died from his injuries after being struck in the attack, becoming the fourth son of Khalil al-Hayya to be killed in Israeli strikes during previous years of conflict, Reuters reported.

Hamas spokesperson Basem Naim confirmed the death, while the Israeli military has not commented on the allegations.

Khalil al-Hayya, one of Hamas’s key leaders in Gaza negotiations, has previously been targeted in attacks in which members of his family were killed.

His sons were killed in earlier Israeli operations in 2008 and 2014, and another son died in an attack in Doha last year, according to Hamas.

The death occurred at a time when talks are underway in Cairo between Hamas, other Palestinian factions, and regional mediators, with the involvement of U.S. envoy Nikolay Mladenov, in an effort to maintain and strengthen the ceasefire reached in October.

Hamas has told mediators that it will not enter the next phase of negotiations until Israel, according to its claims, fully fulfills obligations from the first phase of the agreement, including a halt to military operations.

Israel, on the other hand, says its strikes are aimed at preventing militant attacks on Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, according to local health authorities, more than 800 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire took effect, while Israel says four of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.