Displaced Palestinians try to get internet service on their phones through the Egyptian networks to communicate with their relatives, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
Hamas negotiators continued discussions in Cairo for a third day on Tuesday, aiming to secure a 40-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip before the commencement of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The proposed ceasefire intends to facilitate the release of hostages held since the October attack that triggered the conflict, increase aid to Gaza, and allow families to return to abandoned homes. Ramadan is set to begin in the upcoming week.
According to a Hamas official, the delegation is expected to conclude the current round of talks in Cairo later on Tuesday. Meanwhile, three security sources from Egypt, serving as hosts and mediators, reported that both sides maintained their respective demands, which have been a stumbling block in reaching an agreement. Despite the absence of an Israeli delegation, Egypt has remained in contact with Israeli authorities.
Senior Hamas official Bassem Naim disclosed that the group had presented a draft ceasefire agreement and was awaiting a response from Israel. Naim suggested that the ball was now in the hands of the United States to exert pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Israel has refrained from public commentary on the ongoing talks, a senior Israeli official affirmed the nation’s commitment to reaching an agreement and expressed the expectation of a response from Hamas. Earlier reports suggested that Israel’s absence from the negotiations was linked to Hamas’s reluctance to provide a comprehensive list of surviving hostages, a claim contested by Naim, who argued that such information could only be collated with a ceasefire in place due to the scattered and diverse locations of the hostages.
The United States, a key ally of Israel and a sponsor of the ceasefire talks, asserted that an Israeli-approved deal was already available for acceptance by Hamas. The U.S. urged Hamas to adopt the proposed agreement, dismissing Hamas’s allegations that the deal was an attempt to deflect blame if the talks failed.
Moreover, the U.S. emphasized the need for Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 30,000 Palestinians have lost their lives amid the conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Israel to maximize efforts in providing assistance to those in need.
In light of the negotiations, there is a critical focus on resolving differences over issues such as the return of Gaza residents to abandoned homes during the truce, Israel’s demand for a hostage list, and Hamas’s desire for a permanent end to hostilities. Additionally, famine looms over Gaza due to a severe shortage of aid supplies, raising concerns about the well-being of the population. The U.S. military, in collaboration with Jordan, has initiated airdrops of meals into northern Gaza, although aid agencies argue that this response is insufficient to address the scale of hunger in the region. The situation is exacerbated by the breakdown of civil administration and law and order, making food distribution challenging.
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