Israeli delegation arrives in Cairo to resume indirect talks on Gaza ceasefire: AP

CAIRO – 18 July 2024: An Israeli delegation has arrived in Cairo to resume the indirect negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip and a prisoner swap deal between Hamas leaders and Israel, AP reported three Egyptian officials at the Cairo International Airport on Thursday.

The negotiations were halted last week after Israel targeted al-Mawasi, the area designated as a humanitarian zone in Western Khan younis, killing about 100 civilians, including children and civil emergency personnel, and injuring hundreds. The Israeli Army announced that the attack on al-Mawasi aimed to assassinate two Hamas leaders, Mohamed Al-Deif and Rafi Salama. However, the movement confirmed that Al-Deif is fine and the Israeli rumors about his assassination are baseless.

The attack came at a time when top Egyptian, US, and Qatari negotiators had been actively mediating between Hamas and Israel to end the war that has been ongoing since October 7.

While Hamas has shown readiness to compromise its longstanding demand for a permanent ceasefire as a precondition for any deal, Israel has affirmed that it will not cease hostilities until all its war objectives are achieved.

Over the past nine months, the Israeli war in Gaza has killed more than 38,794 people and injured more than 89,364 others.

Additionally, Gaza lost most of its infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and other vital facilities, and is currently facing a looming famine.