Last week, Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, warned that the group would not return to partial agreements if the latest round of talks - which now appears to have collapsed - failed to produce a deal.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, reports news agency Reuters. The meeting took place in a bid to salvage the Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the enclave,

Haniyeh was under U.S. sanctions and wanted by the International Criminal Court. The political leader was the public face of Hamas.

Ismail Haniyeh, political leader of Hamas since 2017, has been the most visible leader of the group during Israel’s war in Gaza, and was key in ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations.