A senior official of Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sabotaging negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, bringing the process back to square one. The official, speaking to Qatari newspaper The New Arab, suggested that Netanyahu was trying to buy time, warning the families of the hostages that the last round of negotiations may be their final opportunity to bring their loved ones home. Despite this setback, the United States believes that an agreement between Israel and Hamas is nearing completion, with talks ongoing to establish a ceasefire agreement for the hostages in Gaza. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking aboard Air Force One as President Joe Biden traveled to Wisconsin, expressed confidence that the negotiations could bridge any remaining differences.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin publicly confirmed that the US had temporarily halted an arms transfer to Israel due to concerns related to the military operation in Rafah. Austin stated that the US was reviewing security assistance in light of the events in Rafah and emphasized the importance of Israel accounting for civilian casualties in the region. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) raised concerns about the situation in southern Gaza, where hospitals are facing a critical shortage of fuel due to the closure of border crossings in Rafah, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Amidst these developments, Hamas authorities have uncovered a new mass grave at Al Shifa hospital, where dozens of bodies have been exhumed. This discovery adds to the growing number of mass graves found in hospitals across