US Secretary of State Blinken in Israel as Ceasefire Talks Stall in Cairo

US Secretary of State Tony Blinken, who visited Israel, is listening to the appeals of the families of hostile Israelis who are waiting in front of the hotel in Tel Aviv where they are staying on the 1st. 2024.05.01 © AFP=News1 © News1 Reporter Jeong Ji-yoon

Negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, which resumed on the 5th (local time) for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas (Palestinian armed faction), were reported they ended up ’empty handed’ again.

According to Reuters and AFP, the countries mediating the ceasefire talks, including Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, met with a delegation of Hamas in Cairo today and on the day before (the 4th) to negotiate a truce, but they were unable to come to any decision. The second day ended with an ’empty meeting’.

The essence of the cease-fire plan​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​at the negotiating table is a​​​​​​step-by-step​​ceasefire​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Initially, the war will be suspended for up to 40 days, but some Israeli and Palestinian hostages will be changed. After that, talks about a permanent ceasefire and the release of larger hostages will proceed gradually.

However, Hamas’ position is that it will “under no circumstances” agree to a ceasefire that does not specifically include “a complete end to the war,” including Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip . Underlying this is the concern that if the cease-fire talks gradually go wrong, Israel could attack the Gaza Strip at any time.

In fact, Israel maintains its war stance against Rafah, a city in the southern part of the Gaza Strip that is effectively controlled by Hamas. Despite continued discouragement from the United States and other Western countries, Israel insists that negotiations are negotiations and that the Rafah offensive must be carried out to end Hamas.

Accordingly, according to Al Jazeera, an Arab broadcaster, despite ongoing cease-fire talks, Israel continues air strikes against Rafah. Al Jazeera reported, “Overnight, two houses and farmland in eastern Rafah were targeted by Israeli airstrikes,” and “an incident occurred in the Zaitoun district, north of Gaza City, where a mother and killed her two children in their home. ” reported.

Analysis suggests that the political background of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in power through a coalition with far-right parties, has a significant impact. Hamas also accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of sabotaging efforts for a ceasefire because of “personal interests”.

Israel has not yet sent a delegation to Cairo. Israel’s position is that they will only act if there is a ‘positive move’ from Hamas towards the peace plan. However, on the 4th, thousands of Israelis protested, asking Prime Minister Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas and bring the enemies home.

AFP quoted an Israeli official as saying, “Hard and long (ceasefire) talks are expected.”

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