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.”
