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Hamas Leaves Gaza Talks with No Ceasefire Deal
(Wall Street Journal) Summer Said - Hamas said it was pausing its participation in talks in Cairo aimed at securing a ceasefire, after its Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar, delivered a hardened negotiating position. Egyptian officials said Sinwar believes Hamas currently has the upper hand in negotiations, citing internal political divisions within Israel and mounting U.S. pressure on Israel to do more to alleviate the suffering of Gaza civilians. Sinwar hopes that friction between Washington and Israel could allow him to cut a deal more favorable to Hamas and is pushing for a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Arab and Israeli officials said they fear that Sinwar is deliberately undermining the talks in the hope that Ramadan will galvanize popular Arab support for Hamas, leading to an escalation of tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem.