White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that efforts are ongoing in Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the U.S.’s concern about the potential escalation of the Middle East conflict into a wider war.
Sullivan mentioned during a news conference in Halifax that the Biden administration is maintaining steady communication with Israel regarding the situation with Hezbollah.
Despite the ongoing negotiations in Cairo, no agreement was reached on Sunday regarding the ceasefire in Gaza, as neither Hamas nor Israel accepted the compromises proposed by mediators, according to two Egyptian security sources.
This situation casts doubt on the success of the U.S.-supported initiative to conclude the 10-month conflict.
A senior U.S. official described the discussions as “constructive” and mentioned that the talks were conducted with the intention to finalize a practical agreement.
The White House official, who spoke anonymously, indicated that discussions would continue through working groups to address unresolved issues, with teams remaining in Cairo.
Long-standing talks have yet to resolve key issues, including an Israeli presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategic area along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
Proposals concerning Israeli forces’ presence in this corridor and another across central Gaza were rejected by the involved parties.
Additionally, Israel has expressed concerns about releasing certain Palestinian detainees that Hamas has requested, demanding their departure from Gaza upon release.
Intensive negotiations have been ongoing, with U.S., Israeli, and Egyptian teams working since Thursday to bridge the remaining divides.
On Sunday, senior Israeli officials joined the negotiations to tackle unresolved matters, with mediators assisting, though no clear breakthrough was announced.
Hamas criticized Israel for retracting a previous commitment to withdraw troops from the corridor and for introducing new terms regarding the screening of displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza at the ceasefire’s start.
Hamas reiterated its refusal to discuss any backtracking on previously agreed terms or to entertain new conditions, as stated by Hamas official Osama Hamdan on Al-Aqsa TV.
