CAIRO: Cautious hopes were building Tuesday for a Gaza truce and hostage release deal as Hamas said it was studying Israel’s latest proposal for a 40-day truce. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to head back to Israel to discuss the Gaza ceasefire deal, AFP reported.
Returning to Qatar after the latest talks in Cairo, the Hamas delegation said it would “discuss the ideas and the proposal… we are keen to respond as quickly as possible,” a Hamas source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Hamas sources said that they are meticulously examining the truce proposal and are eager to provide a swift response. Following discussions held in Cairo, the Palestinian group’s delegation returned to their base in Qatar to deliberate on the proposed terms.
Egypt, a key mediator alongside the United States and Qatar, said that Hamas’s representatives are expected to return with a written response, indicating a significant step forward in the negotiation process. Egyptian sources told Al-Qahera News, a site linked to Egyptian intelligence services, that the Hamas delegation would “return with a written response”.
Meanwhile, Antony Blinken, the United States’ top diplomat, is set to resume talks in Israel, intensifying efforts to broker a ceasefire. Blinken, who described Israel’s offer as “extraordinarily generous,” urged the Palestinian group to reach a decision promptly. Amid mounting pressure, Washington has emphasized the importance of reaching a resolution to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
President Joe Biden reiterated calls for the release of hostages held by Hamas, citing it as the primary obstacle to securing relief for civilians enduring the protracted conflict.
For months, Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to secure a new agreement between the combatants. A one-week truce in November saw 80 Israeli hostages exchanged for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Relentless Israeli bombardment has meanwhile devastated Gaza, flattening much of the territory and bringing its people to the brink of famine, while threatening to unfurl into a wider regional conflict.
Since October 7, Israeli bombardment has killed at least 34,488 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the occupied Palestinian territory. That tally includes at least 34 deaths in a 24-hour window, the ministry said Monday, down from a peak this month of at least 153 deaths on April 9.
In response to the prolonged suffering in Gaza, widespread protests have erupted globally, with universities serving as focal points for demonstrations. Notably, Columbia University in New York, a prominent hub for protest activities, took disciplinary action against student demonstrators for holding pro-Palestinian protests.
