US State Department: Hamas Ignoring Ceasefire Talks for Weeks

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that Hamas has been ignoring talks over the past several weeks to free hostages and achieve a ceasefire.

State Department: Hamas’ refusal to engage is hindering Gaza ceasefire efforts

At a press conference on Wednesday, a journalist asked Miller whether Israel’s war with Hezbollah had caused the end of discussions on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip or whether those negotiations were still ongoing.

“The problem is not that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has overshadowed the discussions. The main reason is that Hamas has once again refused to cooperate,” Miller said. He noted that Hamas’ refusal to cooperate predates the events of the past week and a half, when Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon and attacked Hezbollah command, infrastructure and fighters.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stresses that despite the difficult situation, negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages remain relevant. However, the lack of cooperation from Hamas jeopardizes further efforts to restore peace in the Gaza Strip.

Against this backdrop, the international community continues to call for dialogue and ways to de-escalate the conflict. The situation requires careful analysis to avoid further escalation and minimize the suffering of the civilian population, which continues to find itself at the center of military action.

Hamas officially refuses to participate in peace talks

Despite mediators’ efforts to find “acceptable options,” Hamas has refused to engage for whatever reason, a State Department spokesman said. Miller’s comments echo his previous statements. Asked Tuesday by a reporter about the status of U.S.-backed cease-fire talks in Gaza and Lebanon, Miller reiterated that Hamas has no interest in engaging in discussions.

“Hamas has shown no willingness to negotiate in the last few weeks,” Miller said. “So yes, you could say we have failed to advance the cease-fire discussions, but that is not due to a lack of effort on the part of the United States or our regional partners. The problem is that a terrorist organization that Iran has supported for many years refuses to come to the negotiating table.”

He also noted that the terrorist organization operating in Gaza has stopped interacting with mediators from Egypt and Qatar. He also stressed that Israel will have to make difficult decisions regarding a possible deal, but “at the moment and over the past few weeks, it is Hamas’ lack of willingness to engage with the mediators that has become the main obstacle to reaching an agreement.”