BREAKING NEWS

US State Dept: Partners in Qatar say they will work to have Hamas represented at ceasefire talks

Partners in Qatar have assured Washington that they will work to have Hamas represented at Gaza ceasefire talks this week, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the US fully expects talks to move forward.

Hamas is demanding a workable plan to implement the proposal, presented by US President Joe Biden in May - rather than more talks. A Hamas official told Reuters that a CNN report saying the group planned to attend on Thursday was wrong.