Hamas denies reports of hostage talks freeze

On July 14, according to the Times of Israel, Israeli media quoted Hamas's official statement as saying that the AFP report on Hamas's hostage freeze and armistice talks was false. The statement said: "One of the purposes of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government's escalation of the attack on Gaza is to block the path to an agreement that prevents aggression against our people, as everyone knows." Qatari media quoted unnamed sources as saying that hostage truce talks between Israel and Hamas would resume this week in Doha.