Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks in Cairo as Israel Demands Hostage Reassurances
Mediators and representatives from Hamas have arrived in Cairo, Egypt, for talks on a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. However, Israel is reportedly demanding reassurances on the fate of its hostages before attending the negotiations. 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. As a result, Israel has refused to attend the talks until these concerns are addressed. The United States has proposed a six-week pause in hostilities, during which more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners would be released.
Delegates from Qatar and the US are also present in Egypt to participate in the negotiations. The urgency for a ceasefire agreement has intensified following an incident that occurred outside Gaza City on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least 112 people as crowds rushed towards an aid convoy. Hamas has accused Israel of shooting at civilians who were attempting to access food supplies, but Israel has denied these allegations.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, stated that an initial review of the incident had been conducted and confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF towards the aid convoy. He claimed that several looters approached IDF forces and posed an immediate threat to them. A full investigation will be conducted by an independent and professional body of the army, with updates expected in the coming days. However, witnesses interviewed by BBC Verify have disputed the Israeli account, describing being shot at.
Hamas has expressed optimism that a truce agreement could be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours. A source from the group informed Egyptian media that the deal’s success depended on Israel agreeing to their demands. Egyptian officials, who have been facilitating talks with Qatar, have stated that delegations from both Hamas and Israel are expected to attend the negotiations.
There are growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with aid organizations warning of a risk of famine in the northern part of the territory. Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, recently visited Gaza and described the situation as worse than he had anticipated. He reported that people were starving and dying, with no aid reaching the 300,000 individuals living in ruins due to Israel’s blockade.
In response to the aid convoy incident, the US conducted its first airdrop of humanitarian aid for Gaza, delivering over 30,000 meals via three military planes on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel carried out a wave of air strikes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, resulting in casualties whose exact number is unknown. Additionally, an Israeli air strike at a camp for displaced people in Rafah in southern Gaza on Saturday led to the deaths of at least 11 individuals, according to Hamas. The World Health Organization chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, condemned the attack as “outrageous.” The Israeli army claimed that it had conducted a precision strike against Islamic Jihad militants in the area.
As the ceasefire talks continue in Cairo, the hope for a resolution to the Israel-Gaza conflict remains uncertain. The international community is closely monitoring the negotiations and urging both sides to reach an agreement that will bring an end to the violence and alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
