Israel did not join ceasefire talks in Cairo today after the Hamas rejected his request for a full list of the names of the hostages still alive, an Israeli newspaper reported.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for the talks, which had been presented as a potentially final hurdle before a deal to halt fighting for six weeks. But until early evening the Israelis were absent.
“There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo,” unnamed Israeli officials said, according to the Ynet website of the Israeli Yediot Achronot newspaper. “Hamas refuses to give clear answers and therefore there is no reason to send the Israeli delegation.”
Washington insisted that the agreement for ceasefire is close and should be concluded in time for fighting to cease by the start of Ramadan in a week’s time. But the warring sides do not show, at least publicly, that they are backing down from their previous demands.
After the arrival of the Hamas delegation, a Palestinian official told Reuters that “no deal yet”.. There was no official comment from the Israeli side.
A source briefed on the talks said yesterday, Saturday, that the Israelis may not go to Cairo unless Hamas first presents the full list of hostages still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters that Hamas has so far rejected the request.
In previous negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the status of individual hostages until the terms of their release have been determined.
Source: RES-MPE
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