Hamas Delegation Leaves Cairo Talks Without Ceasefire Deal, Negotiations Continue
In the ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, a Hamas delegation has left talks in Cairo without reaching an agreement. However, the armed group has stated that negotiations with Israel are still ongoing. The hope was to establish a 40-day truce before the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan next week. As the threat of famine looms and international pressure mounts, Egyptian and Qatari mediators have struggled to finalize a deal that would involve the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Israel did not send a delegation to Cairo, stating that it first wanted a list of surviving hostages who could potentially be released.
Hamas claims that Israel did not accept their demands for displaced Palestinians to be allowed to return to their homes, nor did they agree to a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gazan cities. The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas fighters entered southern Israel on October 7th, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and the seizure of 253 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Since then, more than 30,800 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
On Thursday morning, Hamas announced that its delegation had left Cairo for consultations with the leadership of the movement. However, negotiations and efforts to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and provide relief aid to the people of Gaza will continue. Egyptian state-affiliated TV channel al-Qahera reported that negotiations would resume next week.
Israel’s government has not yet commented on the situation. The US State Department expressed its belief that the obstacles raised during the talks were not insurmountable and that a deal could still be reached. According to reports, the proposed agreement would involve the release of 40 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately ten times as many Palestinian prisoners being freed from Israeli jails. It is estimated that over 130 hostages are still held by Hamas, with Israeli officials confirming that at least 30 of them have died.
If a new deal is not reached, tensions are likely to escalate further during the upcoming Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Sunday or Monday, depending on the lunar calendar. Additionally, reports of deaths from starvation in Gaza have prompted the UK and the US to pressure Israel to increase the flow of aid. Israel, on the other hand, is blaming the UN for problems in aid distribution.
The negotiations in Cairo continue to be a focal point of international attention as the world watches closely for any progress towards a ceasefire. The situation remains tense, with hopes for a resolution before Ramadan diminishing. The fate of the hostages and the well-being of the people of Gaza hang in the balance as negotiations persist.