Hamas, Israel delegations leave Cairo following 2-day round of negotiations

CAIRO – 9 May 2024: Delegations of Hamas and Israel left Cairo, Thursday following a two-day round of negotiations.

According to a high-ranking source, the Egyptian efforts along with other mediators' efforts are continuing to bring the two parties' viewpoints closer, especially in light of the recent developments in Gaza Strip.

The Gaza ceasefire talks resumed in Cairo on Thursday with the participation of all parties, a source told Al Qahera News.

With the participation of the Palestinian factions of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front, the ceasefire negotiations were announced to address the points of disagreement between Hamas and Israel.

Egypt’s security delegation has highlighted to all the participating parties the danger of escalating and failing to adhere to the negotiation path, an Egyptian high-level source said on Wednesday.

Both Israel and Hamas have been stripped of their “veto” power over the names of hostages and prisoners to be released in the swap deal, Hamas told Al-Arabiya on Wednesday.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of all the details of the ceasefire and swap deal proposal but was maneuvering to prolong the war,” Hamas stated.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Council of War had agreed to show flexibility in negotiations but Netanyahu unilaterally retracted that two weeks ago, Israeli media reported.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Thursday that Israel has killed 34,904 Palestinians and injured 78,514 since October 7.

Further, Israeli forces launched on May 6 a limited ground operation in the Palestinian city of Rafah despite the international warnings, especially those by Egypt, Jordan and the United States of America. This operation resulted in closing the only operating border crossings of Rafah and Karam Abu Salem and, consequently, suspended the entry of humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians.

On May 6, the Hamas movement informed the Egyptian and Qatari mediators of the movement’s approval of the Egyptian proposal on a ceasefire agreement in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The movement’s approval came after intensified efforts made by Egypt and other international parties to contain the situation and prevent escalation when the Israeli army called on residents east of Rafah city in the Gaza Strip to evacuate the area immediately ahead of the ground offensive against the city.