Gaza ceasefire talks to resume in Cairo on Sunday as global pressure mounts on Israel

CAIRO – 30 March 2024: Cairo is set to host a fresh round of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel on Sunday, aiming to reach a truce in Gaza just days after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan, and France convened in Cairo on Saturday, where they issued a joint call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Stéphane Séjourné, the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, emphasized call for halting military operations in Gaza, aligning with the resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council.

In a joint press conference with the Egyptian and Jordanian FMs, Séjourné expressed France's determination to advance its political efforts on this matter within the Security Council in the forthcoming weeks.

Séjourné further warned that the ongoing tragedy in Gaza does not serve the security of Israel and Israeli people.

The Security Council Resolution 2728 was adopted with overwhelming support, receiving 14 votes in favor and none against, while the United States chose to abstain instead of exercising its veto power as seen in previous ceasefire resolutions concerning Gaza.

Meanwhile, Ayman Safadi, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, called for holding Israel accountable for its aggression in Gaza, which has persisted despite global condemnation.

Safadi stated, “If Israel challenges the entire world, then the world must take practical and effective steps to stop this madness, killing, and destruction.”

The urgency for a ceasefire has reached unprecedented levels as Gaza faces the imminent threat of a devastating famine, exacerbated by Israeli obstruction of crucial humanitarian aid.

Israel has outlined plans for a ground invasion in Rafah in southern Gaza, which potentially involve the evacuation of around 1.5 million citizens who are currently seeking shelter in the city.

The international community has expressed alarm over these plans, considering them to have further disastrous humanitarian implications.

A mid-March report from the United Nations warned of the catastrophic situation in Gaza, with the northern part of the strip on the brink of famine, while the rest of the region remains at risk.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to dispatch negotiating teams led by the heads of Israeli Mossad and Shin Bet to Cairo and Doha.