CAIRO, Egypt: No significant headway has been achieved in the Gaza truce negotiations, which recommenced in Egypt on Saturday in a bid to halt months of conflict between Israel and Hamas in the embattled enclave.
The talks faced hurdles due to Israel’s steadfast refusal to commit to a permanent ceasefire, divulged a Hamas source speaking anonymously to a news agency.
Hamas stipulated in the agreement an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a complete cessation of hostilities, terms rebuffed by Israel.
An initial report from Al Arabiya News channel suggested Hamas had consented to release 33 hostages, an increase from the initial 20, in the ceasefire’s first phase, as per Israel’s demand.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo Saturday to engage with Egyptian mediators on a potential Gaza truce, aiming to secure the return of some hostages to Israel.
However, negotiations faltered as a senior Israeli official accused Hamas of obstructing the prospect of reaching an accord by insisting on an end to the conflict, as reported by a news agency.
The talks adjourned for the day and are slated to resume on Sunday, according to a senior Hamas source familiar with the discussions.
Previous negotiation attempts stalled partly due to Hamas’s insistence on a lasting ceasefire and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reiterated pledges to eliminate the group’s remaining fighters in Rafah, a city teeming with displaced civilians in the south.
As discussions persist, Israel persists with its military operations in Gaza, where the toll from bombardments stands at over 34,654 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.
The United Nations warns that over 70% of Gaza’s residential structures have been either entirely or partially demolished, necessitating reconstruction efforts on a scale not witnessed since the aftermath of World War II.
The World Health Organization (WHO) cautions that 1.2 million people, half of Gaza’s population, are seeking refuge in Rafah, with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioning against the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe in the event of a full-scale military operation in the region.
Cindy McCain, head of the World Food Program, highlights a dire situation, with famine already ravaging the northern areas of Gaza and spreading southward. She underscores the urgent need for a ceasefire and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Despite international appeals, aid distribution in Gaza remains constrained by restrictions and inspections imposed by Israel, with humanitarian organizations attributing delays to these impediments.
