Egyptian Delegation in Israel to Advance Hostage Negotiations and Ceasefire in Gaza
JERUSALEM — An Egyptian delegation is currently in Israel, working tirelessly to push forward negotiations that have hit a roadblock in releasing hostages and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, as confirmed by Egyptian and Israeli officials to CNN on Friday.
The delegation is also slated to engage in further discussions with Israeli officials regarding security coordination around a potential Israeli operation in Rafah, according to another Israeli official. Egypt is expressing concerns about the potential consequences of a full-scale Israeli operation in Rafah, which is in close proximity to its border and where approximately a million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent months.
Despite ongoing talks facilitated by Qatar and Egypt for months, Hamas and Israel have yet to come to an agreement due to differences in key demands.
A senior US administration official mentioned on Thursday that there are some promising signs indicating a potential breakthrough in brokering a deal.
The latest proposed framework, discussed over several rounds of talks in Qatar and Egypt, includes a six-week ceasefire and the release of certain hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
One of Hamas’s primary demands is the “unrestricted” return of displaced Palestinians from the south of Gaza to the north.
The US official confirmed that this element is included in the draft agreement, with provisions in place to ensure the safety of those returning.
“That means shelter, that means assistance. That means a UN mission to make sure things are ready,” the official added.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya reiterated other key demands that have been previously rejected by Israel, emphasizing them as crucial conditions for any potential agreement.
He emphasized that Hamas cannot agree to a deal without a guarantee of a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
“Despite the catastrophe (in Gaza)… it is not possible for us to release (the hostages) for a poor exchange, which could then lead to a restart of an (Israeli) assault or war on our people,” he stated.
Israel has affirmed that its operations in Gaza will persist until Hamas is completely eradicated.
While negotiations drag on, the death toll in Gaza continues to climb, and families of hostages in Israel are growing increasingly desperate to bring their loved ones home. Qatar, a key mediator, has raised doubts this week about the commitment of Israel and Hamas to reaching a resolution.
Another contentious issue in the negotiations is the number of Israeli hostages slated for release in the initial phase of the agreement. After initially agreeing on 40 hostages, including all women, as well as sick and elderly men, Hamas has indicated that they do not have enough living hostages who meet those criteria for release, as per another Israeli official and a source familiar with the discussions.
In a rare joint statement issued on Thursday, leaders from 18 countries, including the United States, urged Hamas to accept the terms of a deal and release the hostages, as this action “would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza that would enable a surge of additional vital humanitarian aid to be distributed throughout Gaza and lead to a credible end of hostilities.”
“A lot of times we hear things from leaders of Hamas outside (of Gaza) that do not reflect the Hamas leadership inside, which seems determined to simply sit underground holding hostages,” the senior US administration official remarked.
A senior Hamas official criticized the statement as a display of “ironic international politics” and called on the countries that signed it to exert pressure on Israel to accept a deal.
“Their sons and daughters are not more precious than our sons and daughters,” stated the official, Basem Naim, in a released statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli demonstrators joined hostage families in a protest in Tel Aviv on Thursday, following the release of a video by Hamas featuring Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was abducted during Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7.
“We sincerely hope that seeing him and hearing his voice serves as a stark reminder to all negotiators that they are negotiating over the lives of real people,” expressed Goldberg-Polin’s parents in a video message.
In Gaza, aid is slowly trickling in, but aid agencies note that it is far from sufficient to provide adequate relief for impoverished Palestinians. Frustration continues to mount over the delayed response to the crisis, stemming from Israel’s offensive and its blockade on the strip.
“People require food assistance daily, and we have the capacity to bring in trucks daily, but it is still not enough,” remarked Matthew Hollingworth from the World Food Programme. — CNN
