In a statement, Hamas claimed several reasons for its decision: the new conditions and demands presented recently by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that killed dozens of Palestinians, many of them civilians.

“In light of this, and out of concern and responsibility towards our people and their interests, the movement calls on the mediators to submit a plan to implement what they presented to the movement and approved on July 2, based on Biden’s vision and [UN] Security Council resolution,” Hamas said in its statement.

The group said additional rounds of negotiations or discussing new proposals “provide cover for the occupation’s aggression.”