Hamas announced on Wednesday that it will not participate in the upcoming ceasefire discussions scheduled for Thursday in Qatar. However, an official with knowledge of the talks indicated that mediators plan to consult with the Palestinian group following the session. The US has confirmed that indirect negotiations will proceed as scheduled in Doha on Thursday, expressing hope for a potential ceasefire agreement while emphasizing the urgent need for progress to prevent a broader conflict. Meanwhile, Axios reported that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has delayed his planned trip to the Middle East, which was set to commence on Tuesday. Iranian officials have stated that a ceasefire in Gaza is necessary to prevent Iran from retaliating directly against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last month. Israel's government spokesperson, David Mencer, announced that the Israeli negotiation team will travel as planned on August 15th to finalize the details of the framework agreement implementation. The delegation includes high-ranking security officials such as David Barnea, Ronen Bar, and Nitzan Alon. Hamas has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the talks, accusing Israel of delaying tactics, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as the primary obstacle to reaching an agreement. A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, criticized the new negotiations, suggesting they allow Israel to set new conditions and continue aggressive actions. Despite Hamas' absence, progress is still possible as their chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, is based in Doha, and the group maintains communication channels with Egypt and Qatar. Hamas is committed to the proposal presented on July 2nd, based on UN Security Council resolutions and Biden's speech, and is ready to discuss implementation mechanisms. A source indicated that Hamas expects a serious response from Israel before engaging further with mediators. In Lebanon, US President Joe Biden's senior adviser, Amos Hochstein, is working to prevent escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel following recent tensions. Hochstein has met with key Lebanese political figures to discuss the situation. In Gaza, residents report intensified Israeli military actions in response to Hamas rocket attacks, leading to significant casualties. A ceasefire deal aims to secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but significant disagreements remain between the parties.