Hamas delegation leaves Cairo, negotiations for ceasefire to continue

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Thu, 07 Mar 2024 - 11:10 GMT

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Thu, 07 Mar 2024 - 11:10 GMT

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks to the press in the southern Gaza Strip - Said Khatib / AFP

Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh speaks to the press in the southern Gaza Strip - Said Khatib / AFP

CAIRO - 7 March 2024: A Hamas delegation departed Cairo on Thursday to consult with the movement's leadership, as negotiations and efforts continue to halt the aggression, facilitate the return of displaced persons, and provide relief aid to the Palestinian people, according to a recent statement by the movement.

 

Israeli airstrikes in the central province resulted in casualties and injuries, targeting homes belonging to the Sunwar, Abu Malal, and Shabrawi families in the Nuseirat camp.

 

Israeli forces prevent ambulances from reaching the wounded, besieging Gaza hospitals and disrupting services by restricting fuel supplies. The spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital announced an increase in casualties from Israeli airstrikes to 45 martyrs and 90 wounded, most of whom are women and children.

 

Palestinian medical teams are working to retrieve the bodies of martyrs and search for survivors under the rubble of the Qannan family home in the Baraka area of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.

 

Israeli airstrikes in the central province resulted in casualties and injuries, targeting homes belonging to the Sunwar, Abu Malal, and Shabrawi families in the Nuseirat camp.

 

The Palestinian Red Crescent transported numerous wounded individuals following airstrikes targeting a house in the Nuseirat camp. Israeli warplanes also bombed agricultural land near the entrance to al-Zawayda in central Gaza.

 

In Rafah, Palestinian sources confirmed the injury of six individuals following an Israeli airstrike on agricultural land near a house belonging to the Qishta family in the Jneina neighborhood, east of Rafah, southern Gaza.

 

Yesterday evening, medical sources reported the martyrdom of five Palestinians and the injury of more than 24 others after Israeli forces targeted dozens of Palestinians awaiting aid near the Nablus roundabout and near the Kuwait roundabout in Gaza City.

 

At least 29 martyrs have been recovered, some in a state of decomposition, in Khan Yunis following the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces. Meanwhile, Israeli artillery renewed its shelling of eastern areas of the city, particularly Abasan al-Kabira, Bani Suhayla, and Khuza'a in southern Gaza.

 

With Ramadan just a few days away, mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been engaged in discussions to negotiate the terms of a potential ceasefire in Gaza, aiming to end nearly five months of Israeli aggression.

 

The mediators are urging for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate increased aid delivery to the war-torn Gaza Strip and enable a prisoner swap deal.

 

The proposed deal is expected to halt the fighting for at least six weeks and facilitate the release of around 100 captives held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

 

The ceasefire talks have been ongoing in Cairo for four consecutive days, with the participation of senior negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US, as well as envoys from Hamas, aiming to reach a ceasefire agreement before the start of Ramadan.

 

Israel has boycotted the negotiations in the Egyptian capital due to Hamas's refusal to provide a list of captives who are still alive.

 

A ceasefire is desperately needed as UN data reveals that one quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million population is "one step away from famine," with children suffering and dying from starvation.

 

Since October 7, the Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of 30,717 people and injured 72,156, according to the health ministry in Gaza on Wednesday.

 

Egypt is increasingly concerned about Israeli threats to launch a groundinvasion in Rafah city, which shares a border with Sinai and currently houses approximately 1.4 million Palestinians, a significant increase from the pre-war population of around 200,000.

 

Egypt has expressed its deep concerns regarding the catastrophic impact that such an operation would have on further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the strip.

 

Egypt has condemned the Israeli government decision on building about 3500 new settlement units in the West Bank.

 

In a statement on Wednesday, the Egyptian ForeignMinistry said such a measure reflects insistence to proceed with the illegal settlement policy in violation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and the international law.

 

The ministry added that Israel's continued Israeli practices of annexing and stealing Palestinian lands will not change the lands' historic, legal and demographic status.

 

The ministry underlined the importance of halting such practices which hamper efforts to reach a just settlement of the Palestinian cause.

 

Egypt urged international players to take a strong stand against the Israeli settlement activities.

 

Egypt also called on the United Nations Security Council to shoulder the responsibility to halt the Israeli violations against the international law and protect the Palestinians and their rights.

 

The ministry called for the council to support the recognition of the Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

 

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