Ceasefire Negotiations Resume in Cairo Amidst International Pressure on Israel’s Bombardment of Gaza
Negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza have resumed in Cairo, Egyptian media report. This comes as Israel faces mounting international pressure to halt its bombardment of the southern Gaza city of Rafah. With about 1.5 million people crammed into this small border town, there are growing fears of an Israeli ground offensive.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has rejected ceasefire proposals put forth by Hamas, deeming them “delusional.” He believes that a “total victory” over Gaza is achievable within a matter of months. In response, he has ordered Israeli troops to prepare for an expansion of their ground operation and has vowed to defeat Hamas gunmen hiding in Rafah.
However, the United Nations’ human rights chief, Volker Türk, has warned that any assault on the city would be “terrifying” and result in the likely deaths of many civilians. US President Joe Biden has called for the protection of civilians in the area.
Despite Israel’s rejection of Hamas’s terms, discussions in Cairo are ongoing. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has sent his intelligence chief, David Barnea, to the talks in an effort to make further progress. It is reported that Barnea’s attendance was influenced by American pressure. Other participants include the head of the US Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, Egyptian intelligence officials, and Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
A framework for a temporary truce is currently on the table. It involves the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a period of calm. Qatar and Egypt, with the support of the US, have been shuttling between Israel and Hamas in an attempt to broker a deal.
Israel claims that 134 hostages remain unaccounted for out of the 253 taken by Hamas-led gunmen during the attacks on southern Israel on October 7th. While some hostages have been released, including two male Israeli-Argentines most recently, others have tragically lost their lives. The Hamas-led attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 people.
In response to the attacks, Israel launched military operations in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7th, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that 28,473 Palestinians have been killed and over 68,000 wounded. The population of Rafah, which was home to only 250,000 people before the conflict, now houses more than half of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million residents.
The displaced people in Rafah are living in dire conditions, with many residing in makeshift shelters or tents. Access to safe drinking water and food is scarce. As Israel’s planned assault on Rafah looms, concerns are mounting about the lack of a concrete plan to protect civilians.
Several countries and international organizations, including the United States, have warned Israel against launching its offensive. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on Israel to “stop and think seriously” before taking further action in Rafah. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has urged Israel’s allies to cease sending weapons, citing the high number of casualties in Gaza. South Africa has also approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ), requesting additional emergency measures to protect Palestinians’ rights in light of the planned Israeli offensive.
As negotiations continue in Cairo, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a breakthrough that will bring an end to the violence and suffering in Gaza. The world waits to see if a ceasefire agreement can be reached and if Israel will heed the calls for restraint and protection of civilian lives.