Hamas says it won't take part in Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal talks

• U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators and officials planned to spend the next few days trying to close the gaps between Israel and Hamas ahead of the final round of negotiations between the parties that is set for Aug. 15.
• Israeli officials said the talks on Thursday are "a now-or-never" moment for a deal.

What they're saying: 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."

The other side: A senior Israeli official involved in the negotiations claimed Hamas' statement is "a tactical move ahead of a possible attack by Iran and Hezbollah and in an attempt to get better terms for the deal."

• The official added: "If Hamas won't come to the table, we will continue decimating their forces in Gaza."