GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On Aug. 31, Hamas abruptly announced that it had reached understandings with Israel to contain the escalation in the Gaza Strip. The two parties had conducted rounds of indirect negotiations, first through Egyptian mediation and then with Qatari help.

The office of Hamas’ leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar stated Aug. 31, “After rounds of talks and calls, the last of which was carried out by Qatar’s Ambassador Mohammed al-Emadi, an understanding was reached to contain the escalation and stop the Zionist aggression against our people.”

Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, told Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV Sept. 1 that his movement did not “reach a new agreement with the Israeli occupation authorities, but rather reiterated the previous understandings.”

Hayya noted that Hamas and Israel reached an understanding that previous agreements would be implemented, especially with regard to water, electricity, exports, Palestinian workers who travel to Israel and merchants who move goods across the border. Qatar promised to increase its grant to the Gaza Strip starting in September.