Indirectโ Peace Talks Begin as Israel–Hamas War Enters โthirdโฃ Year
Cairo,Egypt -โ Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas have commencedโ in โEgypt,marking the two-year anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict that โคbeganโฃ on October 7,2023. Egyptian mediators areโ facilitatingโ the talks, aiming to secure a ceasefire, the release of hostages โheld in Gaza, โand a framework for a lasting โขpeace agreement. This โฃrepresents the first direct attempt atโ negotiations since a temporary truce in โNovember 2023โฃ saw theโค release of over 100 hostages in exchangeโฃ for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The renewed diplomatic efforts come as the war โhas resulted โin a devastatingโ humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. israel maintains that approximately 1,200 of its citizens where killedโ in the initial Hamas attack โขand that roughly 240 were โtaken hostage. The conflict has also heightened regional tensions โขand sparked fears of a wider escalation. The current talks focus on a phased approach, potentially beginningโฃ with the release of sick, wounded, and elderly hostages in exchange for a limited ceasefire and increasedโ humanitarianโฃ aid to Gaza.
The โinitial Hamas attack involved a multi-pronged โassault includingโ rocket โfire and ground incursions into southern Israel. โThe โattack prompted โฃa large-scale military response from Israel, including airstrikes and aโ ground offensive inโ Gaza. International organizations, including the United Nations, have repeatedly called โfor a ceasefire and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to theโ besieged โขterritory.
Previous attempts at mediation, led by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, have stalled due to disagreementsโฃ over the terms of a ceasefire and the scope โฃof hostage releases. Key โsticking points includeโค Hamas’s demandโฃ for โขa permanentโฃ end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza and Israel’s insistence on maintaining security control over the territory. โTheโฃ currentโ negotiations are considered especially sensitive given the escalatingโฃ violence โขin recent weeks and the growing pressure from both sides toโฃ achieve a resolution.