A few hours before Hamas purportedly agreed to formalize a prospective ceasefire, Israel assassinated al-Qassam’s leader Salah Shehadeh on July 22. He was killed alongside thirteen others, including nine children.159 Palestinians saw what they called the “Gaza massacre” as proof that Israel was intent on undermining the delicate transformation the Palestinian Authority was trying to orchestrate.160 “It is true that Hamas was preparing to announce a ceasefire in exchange for some conditions,” Yassin confirmed, “but after the Gaza massacre and this crime against humanity, there is nothing but
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