Advancements noted in Gaza truce negotiations, yet significant progress required on decisive particulars, according to American diplomat.
Discussions among negotiators in Cairo are currently delving into the particulars of a potential agreement, despite no imminent conclusive agreement being anticipated.
Negotiators have been attempting to reconcile demands from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas, the militant group controlling Gaza, for numerous months.
The remaining obstacles, while substantial, are thought to be conquerable, according to an official.
One obstacle involves Israel's military presence on Gaza's side of the border with Egypt, also known as the Philadelphi corridor. Hamas opposes Israel's wish to maintain a troop presence in this area during the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement.
According to a US official, the current plan includes an Israeli military withdrawal from densely populated regions in Gaza, with the current debate centering on which parts of the Philadelphi corridor qualify as densely populated versus less populated, where the IDF will continue to have a presence during the initial phase of an agreement.
However, the Hamas negotiating team departed Cairo on Sunday, publicly reaffirming their demand that any agreement must encompass "a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the right of return for residents to their areas, relief and reconstruction, and a substantial exchange deal."
The US official acknowledged that despite Hamas's public statements, "negotiators suspect Hamas may exhibit more flexibility regarding an Israeli presence during the initial phase of an agreement."
The proposed agreement includes a "significant surge in humanitarian aid," as well as a promise to remove debris and initiate reconstruction work, which are intended to bring substantial relief to Gazans, stated the US official.
US negotiators anticipate distribute the latest proposal to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar within the coming days, although the exact timing remains unclear due to communication challenges.
A second US official declared that negotiations in Cairo were "constructive" and were conducted in a positive spirit aiming to reach a final and implementable agreement, with lower-level working group talks scheduled to resume in the subsequent days to tackle remaining issues and details.
On Thursday, the US and Egypt convened with Israel in an effort to narrow any remaining differences and clarify underscored issues in the bridging proposal, as per a source familiar with the matter. The US and Egypt held bilateral talks on Friday to discuss and prepare for the high-level meetings held over the weekend.
On Saturday, Qatar and Egypt convened with top-ranking Hamas officials and meticulously examined each paragraph of the proposal to identify any remaining issues or questions that needed clarification, the source stated.
Background of regional tension
The fact that negotiations in Cairo occurred on Sunday, despite the extensive exchange of fire between Israel and the Iran-supported Lebanese militant group Hezbollah over the past weekend, offered some respite. Several US and Israeli officials believe that Hezbollah's assault, which was largely curbed by Israeli forces, eliminated the leverage which Hamas had hoped would restrict Israel's concessions.
Intense pressure is mounting to reach a deal against the backdrop of extreme famine, critical water scarcity, mass displacement, and disease in Gaza, triggered by Israel's conflict with Hamas in the strip. Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in at least 40,435 Palestinian fatalities and 93,534 injuries, as per the Ministry of Health there.
The Israeli military initiated its aerial and ground assault on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, resulting in around 1,200 casualties and over 250 abductions, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military is currently holding 109 hostages in Gaza, including 36 who are believed to have perished, as per data from the Israeli government's press office.
CNN's Sana Noor Haq, Alex Marquadt, and Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting.
The ongoing politics in Cairo revolve around finding a compromise between Israeli demands and Hamas's demands, which include a complete withdrawal from Gaza and the right of return for residents.
Despite the Hamas negotiating team leaving Cairo, US negotiators remain optimistic about Hamas exhibiting flexibility regarding Israel's presence during the initial phase of an agreement, as suggested by some US officials.
