Egypt hosts Israeli, US delegations for Gaza ceasefire talks

CAIRO – 6 July 2024: Egypt is hosting delegations from Israel and the United States to negotiate the remaining points necessary to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, according to a high-level source on Saturday.

The source further stated that ongoing consultations between Egypt and Hamas are taking place with the aim of reaching a ceasefire agreement and facilitating the exchange of detainees and captives.

These developments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized negotiators to resume talks this week.

The Israeli war in Gaza has been ongoing since October 7, resulting in the loss of over 38,000 Palestinian lives and leaving more than 87,700 others injured.

The strip is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Points of contention

The main point of contention between Israel and Hamas remains the duration of any ceasefire in Gaza, with Israel insisting on a temporary arrangement until their war objectives are met.

These objectives primarily include the safe release of captives, the dismantling of Hamas's military and governing capabilities, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.

In recent months, Israel has targeted numerous Hamas fighters and managed to secure the release of several captives, but fighters from Hamas have continued to launch attacks against the Israeli military.

Hamas has stated that it will not agree to any agreement regarding the release of Israeli captives unless a permanent ceasefire is established.

The movement also insists on the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

A US proposal outlined by President Joe Biden in late May offers a potential resolution by including three phases. The first phase involves implementing a six-week ceasefire, while the second phase focuses on a "permanent cessation of hostilities."

Both Hamas and Israel have not outright rejected the proposal in recent weeks but have shown reluctance to deviate from their positions.

What is new?

The specifics of the recent developments remain somewhat unclear, as information is primarily sourced from unnamed individuals in the US and Israel.

According to Axios, two Israeli officials stated on Friday that Hamas is demanding written commitments from Egypt, the US, and Qatar, the mediators in the talks with Israel.

This demand aims to ensure the continuity of negotiations into the second phase, which deals with negotiating a permanent ceasefire.

According to the officials, this remains the main gap.

Mossad chief David Barnea reportedly traveled to Doha on Friday and met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

He was there to notify the mediators that Israel does not accept Hamas' demand for a written commitment, as per officials cited by Axios.

Glimmer of hope

On the other hand, a senior Hamas source quoted by Reuters mentioned that the movement has accepted a US proposal to initiate talks on the release of captives about two weeks after the first phase of the ceasefire phase.

Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have jointly called on Israel and Hamas to finalize a ceasefire agreement based on the principles outlined by President Biden.