Amid ongoing confrontations, hopes for reviving ceasefire negotiations in Gaza have been reignited as the head of Israel’s Shin Bet visited Cairo to meet with the head of Egyptian Intelligence this Sunday. According to Israeli media, the discussions focused on resuming hostage negotiations.
The head of Shin Bet expressed to the Egyptian Intelligence chief that there is an opportunity to revive the negotiations, as reported by Axios. Despite several attempts by the United States, Israel’s major military ally and supporter, to mediate a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon, the Israeli government has rejected these efforts.
The challenges in reaching a truce agreement are compounded by mutual accusations from Israel and Hamas of obstructing the peace process. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal pressure to secure a deal that would release hostages taken during a Hamas attack, which resulted in the death of 1205 Israelis. On the other hand, Israeli bombing and ground operations in Gaza have led to at least 40,939 deaths, predominantly women and children, confirmed by the United Nations.
Despite months of mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, the warring parties have not reached an agreement on a ceasefire that would also allow for the exchange of Israeli detainees for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The talks have been hindered by disagreements over the border strip between Gaza and Egypt, known as the “Philadelphia Corridor,” and the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages. Netanyahu insists on maintaining Israeli forces at the border strip, while Hamas demands a complete Israeli withdrawal from the sector.
