Ceasefire Talks
A Hamas delegation led by Gaza-based leader Khalil al-Hayya has arrived in Cairo for a new round of talks aimed at advancing the Gaza ceasefire agreement, the group said on Sunday.
Egypt has been hosting intensive talks between Hamas and Israeli delegations since Monday, aimed at securing the release of all captives held by Hamas and ending the war that has continued for more than two years and killed over 67,000 Palestinians.
"There is a rogue actor engaging in constant political thuggery in this region and violating the sovereignty of its states."
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said the move aims to ensure the “safety” of civilians in Gaza by moving them away from “combat zones.”
Netanyahu said Israel is now considering "alternative" options to achieve its objectives of returning captives still held in Gaza and ending the rule of Hamas in the territory, Reuters reported.
"The changes that Hamas seeks to make to the Qatari proposal were conveyed to us last night and are not acceptable to Israel," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement late on Saturday.
The meeting convened after Hamas delegation visited Egypt several days ago to discuss a five-year truce and a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The delegation members begun meetings with Egyptian officials to present Hamas's vision for a ceasefire, an end to the war, and a prisoner exchange, all within the framework of a comprehensive agreement that includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the reconstruction of the Strip.
Hamas affirmed their commitment to positive engagement with any proposals that lead to a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, an end to Palestinians’ suffering, and a serious prisoner exchange deal.
This round of talks, which includes representatives from the United States, comes amidst Israeli-American efforts to extend the first phase of the agreement, set to expire on Saturday.
The ceasefire, which took effect on January 19 following over 15 months of war that devastated the enclave, has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the population.
Doha informed both Hamas and Israel that the Arab country cannot continue to mediate amid the lack of "good faith" in the ongoing discussions
Abdelatty highlighted the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, specifically condemning the Israeli military operations in the northern side of the enclave
According to Israeli news website Ynet, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Burns will head their respective delegations in the talks in Doha.
Egypt reiterated its firm stance against all unilateral and provocative measures and policies that jeopardize regional security and stability and inflame the situation across the region
The meeting convened after the head of the Isr Areli Shin Bet visited Cairo on Sunday and met with the head of Egyptian intelligence Hassan Mahmoud Rashad to revive the ceasefire talks.
The two leaders deliberated on the evolving situation in the Middle East in a phone conversation on Wednesday
The talks, which commenced on Thursday following a joint initiative by the leaders of the three nations, are focused on narrowing the gaps between Hamas and Israel
The negotiations were halted last week after Israel targeted al-Mawasi, the area designated as a humanitarian zone in Western Khan younis, killing about 100 civilians, including children and civil emergency personnel, and injuring hundreds. The Israeli Army announced that the attack on al-Mawasi aimed to assassinate two Hamas leaders, Mohamed Al-Deif and Rafi Salama. However, the movement confirmed that Al-Deif is fine and the Israeli rumors about his assassination are baseless.
The source emphasized that the Israeli regime seems more focused on time-consuming meetings as a PR exercise, rather than reaching a substantive agreement to prevent the collapse of the coalition government
