A Hamas delegation has reportedly arrived in Cairo for new talks aimed at a ceasefire in
Gaza. End of 7 months.
Renewed Talks in Egypt: Prospects for Gaza Ceasefire
Saudi media reports, which could not be independently confirmed, suggest that Hamas
negotiators are willing to accept a brokered deal within hours. CIA Director Bill
Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday to support Egyptian mediators’ efforts toward a ceasefire,
Axios reported.
“Hamas Delegation in Cairo: A Step Towards Peace?”
Hamas officials heading to Cairo told Israel’s Haaretz newspaper that they doubted whether
Israeli forces would resume fighting after the hostages were released.
Israel will not consider joining ceasefire talks with Hamas until the militant group accepts an
updated offer for an internationally brokered temporary ceasefire and the release of
hostages, state newspaper Kan News reported earlier this week.
The Israeli government notified the White House this week of its plans to expel Palestinian
civilians from Rafah ahead of a possible military operation, the Associated Press reported,
citing unnamed officials
Ceasefire Efforts Intensify: Israel’s Conditions and US Involvement”
The United States has called on Israel to oppose a major offensive in Rafah, but Israeli
officials have warned that between 5,000 and 8,000 Hamas fighters and key Palestinian
militant leaders claims that it is necessary to crush the stronghold of
Approximately 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge in Rafah after heavy fighting forced
them from enclaves further north along the coast.
Image source: Bloomberg.com
Separately, the United States has told Qatar that it will expel Hamas if it continues to refuse
a ceasefire with Israel, the Washington Post reported. The newspaper said the news was
relayed to Qatar’s prime minister by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April.
Gaza has been under pressure to crush Hamas since the militant group crossed the border
on October 7 and attacked Israeli communities and military bases. In the attack, 4,444
Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Israeli artillery and ground
attacks have destroyed much of the Gaza Strip and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians,
according to health officials in the Hamas-controlled area.
Since Hamas crossed the border on October 7 and began attacking Israeli communities and
military bases, Israel has been conducting a military operation in Gaza to eradicate the
terrorist organization. The United States and the European Union have classified Hamas as
a terrorist groups.
ABC News was informed by Kirby that Israel has “assured us that they won’t go into Rafah
until we’ve had a chance to really share our perspectives and our concerns with them.”
The UN issued a warning about a serious famine in the area and accused Israel of
preventing humanitarian access in Gaza. The executive director of the World Food
Programme called the situation a “full-blown famine” that was impacting millions of people.
