No deal in Cairo: Gaza ceasefire talks end in deadlock

Another round of negotiations to bring peace to Gaza has failed yet again, as the latest round in Cairo collapsed without agreement. The talks were designed to revive a broken truce and organise the release of Israeli hostages. But both Israel and Hamas declined to retreat from their central demands.

Hamas reiterated its demand that the agreement must include a complete end to the war. Meanwhile, Israel stated that it would not cease its military campaigns until it defeats Hamas thoroughly, news agency Reuters reported.

Hamas has also refused the deal that would require it to disarm. However, Hamas was showing signals that it could negotiate the numbers of hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners with Israel if a temporary ceasefire was extended.

According to reports, Hamas has been offered a new deal allowing it to free more hostages than previously. Israeli Minister Zeev Elkin announced that Israel is now requesting the release of around 10 hostages, rather than the five Hamas had previously agreed to.

But Hamas has requested more time to reply to the new offer. They also request a guarantee that Israel will consent to discuss the end of the war in the second phase of the agreement.

LIFE IN GAZA BECOMES TOUGHER

In January this year, a six-week ceasefire permitted the release of 33 Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. There was to be a second phase of the ceasefire starting in early March to progress towards ending the war. But that never happened.

Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, including many civilians, since Israel resumed its offensive last month, local sources say. The latest round of bombardments has also caused hundreds of thousands to leave their homes. Israel has seized more territory in Gaza and has totally prevented the entry of supplies into the territory.

There are still 59 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, with the Israeli government estimating that approximately 24 could still be alive. Meanwhile, the people of Gaza are suffering as the violence escalates. In Jabalia, a northern Gaza town, rescue workers were excavating rubble with sledgehammers to remove bodies after an Israeli airstrike levelled a building. At least 25 were feared dead in that single attack.

HAMAS TO SEND DELEGATION TO QATAR FOR CEASEFIRE TALKS

Hamas will send a delegation to Qatar in order to hold indirect ceasefire negotiations with Israel over the Gaza war, Reuters reported on Monday. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 38 individuals had been confirmed dead within the last day.

The talks in Qatar are scheduled to take place later this week or next, the report added.

The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 individuals and holding 251 hostages, Israeli reports say. Over 50,900 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive since then, health officials in Gaza reported.

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