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Teams from the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and mediator Qatar have arrived in Cairo for further talks on a cease-fire and hostage release agreement with Israel, according to sources at Cairo International Airport.
Both teams arrived on a flight from Qatar on Saturday, they said.
Egypt’s state-run television, al-Qahera News, also announced the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo, citing “significant progress” in negotiations to reach an agreement.
The broadcaster, citing a “high-level source,” said the Egyptian security team involved in the negotiations had established a “consensus formula” on several sensitive areas. No specific details were provided.
Meanwhile, Israel is allegedly not sending a team to Cairo. According to a government representative, a delegation will not be sent to Egypt until Hamas responds to the current proposed ceasefire accord.
According to Haaretz, Israel intends to send a delegation to continue indirect negotiations with Hamas if the militant organization accepts to the draft deal provided.
Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the ground and air since Hamas militants launched an unprecedented offensive on Israel in October, killing around 1,200 Palestinians.
As part of the most recent mediation efforts, Hamas, which seized approximately 250 persons from Israel on October 7, was provided with a proposal for a cease-fire in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. The response is currently awaited.
Over 100 captives were freed during a six-day truce in November. It is uncertain how many of the surviving captives are still alive.
As of Friday, the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said that the dead toll in Gaza from Israeli attacks started in response to the October 7 attacks was 34,622.
Months of mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the US in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have yet to yield a breakthrough. A diplomatic campaign to secure a settlement has gained momentum over the past few days.
Late Friday evening, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at an event in Arizona that it was challenging to understand Hamas’ thought process.
“The leaders of Hamas that we’re indirectly engaged with through the Qataris, through the Egyptians, are of course living outside of Gaza, living in Qatar or living in [Turkey], other places, and the ultimate decision-makers are the folks who are actually in Gaza itself with whom none of us have direct contact,” he said.
Blinken said if Hamas was really concerned about the well-being of the Palestinians, then agreeing to the ceasefire deal that is on the table should be a “no-brainer.”
On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have carried out an airstrike on a missile launch location in southern Gaza.
On Friday, fighter jets attacked a militant position in Khan Younis after a rocket was fired from there toward the Ein HaShlosha kibbutz, according to the IDF.
According to the statement, a mortar launching location in central Gaza has also been damaged. The Israeli navy has also conducted strikes around Gaza’s coast in the last day.
According to Palestinian security agencies, the Israeli army assaulted a building in the town of Abasan, east of Khan Younis, and shelled refugee camps in central Palestine.
It stated that at least one Palestinian was killed in the Israeli navy strikes.
Source:IANS
