Egyptian officials convinced Hamas not to pull out of Doha talks after Shifa Hospital raid – report

Egyptian officials had to convince Hamas not to suspend its participation in talks for a hostages-for-truce deal after Israel launched a new raid on Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, a Qatari newspaper reports.

An unnamed Egyptian source with knowledge of the matter tells the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that officials intervened yesterday morning to ensure the continued participation of the terror group.

However, the source says it appeared unlikely that the discussions would result in a permanent ceasefire — Israel has adamantly ruled out a permanent ceasefire and insists it will resume its declared goal of destroying Hamas once any deal is carried out.

“Despite the mediators’ keen interest in making the current round of negotiations a success, their ambitions do not amount to reaching a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,” the source says.

Israeli troops entered the hospital complex yesterday amid intelligence that senior Hamas officials were in the area and using the medical center to plan and carry out terror activity.

During the operation troops killed some 40 gunman and a senior Hamas commander, according to the IDF. One Israeli soldier was also killed amid a gun battle with terror operatives in the area of the hospital.

The latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas kicked off Monday evening in Qatar, after an Israeli delegation led by Mossad chief David Barnea arrived in Doha.

An Israeli official estimated the negotiations in Doha could take at least two weeks, citing difficulties that Hamas’s foreign delegates may have in communicating with terror leaders in Gaza after more than five months of war.