Hamas has announced it will not attend ceasefire Hostage talks on Thursday 

Reports vary on whether Israel remains hopeful or doubtful about the prospects of concluding the deal. President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that the proposed ceasefire and hostage release plan remains viable and emphasized the risk of the situation escalating into a regional war. He mentioned that he and his team are working daily to prevent further escalation.

Despite the absence of Hamas negotiators, Israeli security sources expressed cautious optimism that the agreement could still be finalized and implemented soon. U.S. officials, along with Qatar and Egypt, have stressed the need to finalize the deal urgently. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israeli negotiators would attend the talks on August 15 to work on the agreement's implementation.

On the other hand, while Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar reportedly showed interest in ending the conflict, the group has officially stated it will not participate in the upcoming negotiations.