Israel did not attend today’s talks on ceasefire in Cairo after Hamas rejected his request for a full list of the names of 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 has insisted a ceasefire deal is close and must be struck in time for the fighting to stop 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 Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters there was “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.
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