The United States has stated that “very serious” negotiations are underway regarding a new ceasefire in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages. However, the prospects of reaching an agreement remain unclear due to Hamas’s insistence on not discussing anything other than the complete cessation of the Israeli offensive in the Palestinian sector.
Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the movement, visited Egypt yesterday (Wednesday) for the first time in over a month to conduct talks with Egyptian officials who are striving to mediate another truce.
A source familiar with the negotiations said that the envoys are focusing their discussions on identifying the hostages who could be released in case of a new truce, as well as the Palestinian detainees Israel might release in return.
The “Jihad” movement, which holds hostages in Gaza, stated that its leader would also visit Egypt in the coming days to discuss an end to the conflict.
White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters aboard the presidential plane yesterday that “these are very serious discussions and negotiations, and we hope they will lead to some result.”
However, Taher al-Nono, media advisor to Haniyeh, told Reuters that Hamas is not ready to discuss the release of more Israeli hostages until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza and increases humanitarian aid to civilians.
He added, “The issue of prisoners can be negotiated after these two matters. We cannot talk about negotiations while Israel continues its aggression. Any thesis related to prisoners must be discussed after stopping the aggression.”
Al-Nono continued, “The movement’s delegation provided a thorough explanation of the field and political situations and the needs required to improve humanitarian conditions and increase aid to the Palestinian people and deliver this aid to all areas of the sector in the north and south.”
Hamas rejects any other temporary halt to the Israeli military campaign, saying it will only discuss a permanent ceasefire. Al-Nono said, “We spoke clearly with our brothers in Egypt about our position towards this aggression and the necessity of stopping it as a priority now.”
A source familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity, said that Israel insists on the release of all remaining women and elderly male hostages. The list of Palestinian prisoners Israel might release could include those convicted of serious crimes.
Israel launched its ongoing campaign over 10 weeks ago on the Gaza Strip aiming to eliminate Hamas after its fighters attacked Israel on October 7. The attack resulted in about 240 hostages being taken and 1200 people killed, according to Israel.
Since then, Israel has launched a widespread land and air attack on the coastal sector. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed nearly 20,000 deaths, with the possibility of thousands of bodies buried under the rubble.
International relief groups say the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza are on the brink of disaster due to the widespread destruction that forced 90 percent of them to leave their homes, while many suffer from malnutrition, severe lack of clean water, and medical care.
US President Joe Biden said yesterday that he does not expect a second agreement to release hostages between Israel and Hamas soon, but he told reporters, “We are applying pressure.”
Haniyeh’s visit to Egypt represents a rare personal intervention in diplomatic efforts, something he has only done in the past when progress seemed likely.
His last visit to Egypt was in early November before the announcement of the only truce in the Gaza war so far, which lasted a week and saw Hamas release about 110 hostages.
Israel has not publicly commented on the talks in Egypt. It has ruled out a permanent ceasefire, saying it will only agree to a limited humanitarian truce until Hamas is defeated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his position that the war will not end until Hamas is eliminated, all hostages are released, and Gaza no longer poses any further threat to Israel.
He said in a statement yesterday, “Anyone who thinks we will stop is disconnected from reality… Every Hamas terrorist from the first to the last is a living man sentenced to death.”
The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has intensified its calls in the past week to reduce the scope of the comprehensive war to a focused campaign against Hamas leaders and end what Biden called “random bombardment” causing heavy civilian casualties.
Diplomats said that the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote today, Thursday, on an effort to increase aid to the Gaza Strip after a postponement at the request of the United States.
Aid to Gaza has gradually increased in the past few days after the opening of a second crossing to the sector. Cyprus and Israel said yesterday that they are discussing the opening of a sea corridor to deliver more aid to the sector, but no final agreement has been reached yet.
