In Cairo, Israeli negotiators conduct fresh rounds of ceasefire discussions.
As reported by Israeli news sources, the broker nations United States and Egypt are included in the negotiations happening in Cairo on a Friday. Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas are not engaging in direct discussions; instead, the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are serving as intermediaries in these talks. Initially, Israel's negotiating team had participated in the previous round of discussions in Doha, but Hamas declined to join.
The latest discussions come after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to the region and a phone conversation between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Due to the conflict lasting over ten months, Biden urged Netanyahu on a Wednesday to reach a settlement promptly, post Blinken's departure from the region without a promising deal prospect.
The proposed agreement entails a ceasefire, the liberation of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
However, a significant point of contention is the duration of Israeli military presence in the Gaza Strip, particularly Israel's persistence on maintaining permanent control of the southern border between Gaza and Egypt, known as the Philadelphi Corridor. Israel's objective is to hinder Hamas's weaponization via tunnel routes along the border and halt further assaults on its territory, as occurred on October 7. Conversely, Hamas insists on the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.
On October 7, militants from Hamas and other Palestinian extremist groups assaulted southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, perpetrating horrific acts in various border towns. Through their widespread attack, they killed 1,199 individuals and held another 251 captive in the Gaza Strip. As per Israeli reports, 105 individuals remain captive there, with 34 officially reported dead.
In response to Hamas' outrageous attack, Israel launched extensive military operations in the Gaza Strip. According to figures from the Hamas-managed Health Ministry, which cannot be independently verified, more than 40,260 individuals have been killed up to now.
Witnesses stated battles in the north of the Palestinian territory on a Friday, as well as heavy shelling in the center and south near the city of Rafah. On Friday, the Israeli army reported that their units had assassinated "dozens" of fighters in the Khan Yunis and Deir el-Balah regions in the Gaza Strip's central area during the previous day.
The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been actively involved in these negotiations, aiming to ensure the maintenance of its security concerns, particularly at the Philadelphi Corridor. During the recent conflict on October 7, various Palestinian extremist groups, including Hamas, launched attacks from the Gaza Strip, causing significant loss of life and capturing numerous individuals in Israeli border towns.
