Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks Begin in Cairo Amid Hostage Concerns
Mediators and Hamas have arrived in Cairo, Egypt, for talks on a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel is reported to be demanding reassurances on the fate of its hostages before attending the talks. An unnamed US official has stated that Israel has “more or less accepted” the deal, but Israeli media reports suggest that Hamas is refusing to confirm which hostages are still alive, leading to Israel’s reluctance to attend. The United States has proposed a six-week pause in the conflict, during which more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would be released. Delegates from Qatar and the US are also present in Egypt for the negotiations.
The urgency for a ceasefire has escalated following an incident on Thursday outside Gaza City, where at least 112 people were killed as crowds rushed an aid convoy. Hamas has accused Israel of shooting at civilians as they attempted to access food, while Israel denies these allegations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, stated that an initial review of the incident has confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF towards the aid convoy. He added that several looters approached their forces and posed an immediate threat. A full investigation will be conducted by an independent body of the army.
However, witnesses have disputed the Israeli account. Dr. Mohamed Salha, interim hospital manager at al-Awda hospital, revealed that the hospital received around 176 injured people, with 142 of them sustaining bullet injuries. Video and eyewitness accounts support claims of Gazans being shot at during the incident.
Hamas has indicated that a truce agreement could be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours, depending on Israel’s willingness to meet its demands. Egyptian officials, who have been facilitating the talks with Qatar, expect delegations from both Hamas and Israel to attend the negotiations.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas began after Hamas gunmen killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7th and took 253 hostages back to Gaza. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that at least 30,410 people, including 21,000 children and women, have been killed in Gaza, with 7,000 missing and 71,700 injured.
Calls for a ceasefire come as aid organizations warn of the risk of famine in northern Gaza. Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, recently visited the territory and described the situation as worse than a nightmare. He stated that there is famine in the north, with no aid reaching the 300,000 people living in ruins due to Israel’s restrictions.
In response to the aid crisis, the US conducted its first airdrop of humanitarian aid for Gaza on Saturday, parachuting in over 30,000 meals. Meanwhile, Israel carried out intensive air strikes in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, resulting in an unknown number of casualties. An Israeli air strike at a camp for displaced people in Rafah on Saturday claimed the lives of at least 11 individuals, according to Hamas. The World Health Organization chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the attack as “outrageous.” The Israeli army stated that it had targeted Islamic Jihad militants in the area with a precision strike.
As the ceasefire talks continue in Cairo, the hope for a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas remains uncertain. The international community continues to call for an end to the violence and the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza who are suffering from dire conditions.