Israeli envoy: Ceasefire deal with Hamas “close to zero”

Israeli Ambassador to Moscow Simona Halperin has cast doubt on the prospects of securing a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, describing the likelihood of a deal as “close to zero.”

Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Halperin said that the latest round of negotiations in Qatar has yielded little hope for progress, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

"Literally just under a week ago, a delegation returned from Qatar with the understanding that the chances of a deal—I won’t say they’re zero—but they are close to zero," she stated.

Despite the grim outlook, the ambassador expressed optimism that a resolution to the ongoing Gaza conflict could still emerge before the end of the year. "And now I believe that in the near future—this is not a deadline—but a decision [on the situation] must be made, I believe that. Let’s say, as you said—within this year. Yes, I think it will happen this year," she added.

Tensions between Israel and Hamas have escalated since negotiations stalled last month. On July 27, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya publicly dismissed the talks, asserting that continued negotiations were “pointless” while Israel maintains its blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Prior to that, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed his government to recall its delegation from Doha, citing Hamas’s unsatisfactory response to ceasefire proposals presented during negotiations that began on July 6.

The United States has taken a similar stance. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed Washington had pulled its envoys from the Qatari capital.

However, Hamas disputed this interpretation, claiming that other mediators involved in the talks had “approved the response provided and called it constructive,” reflecting a continued divergence in how the international parties view Hamas’ role in the stalled peace process.

By Vafa Guliyeva