Truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to recommence in Cairo on Sunday, marking the latest effort to secure a cessation of hostilities after nearly six months of conflict in the Gaza Strip. According to a report from Egypt’s Al Qahera News TV, citing a security source, talks will resume with mediation from Egyptian authorities.
An Israeli official confirmed to Reuters that a delegation from Israel would indeed travel to Cairo for discussions on Sunday. However, a Hamas official informed Reuters that the group would await communication from Cairo mediators regarding the outcome of their discussions with Israel before committing to further talks.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire have intensified, with Qatar and Egypt mediating discussions aimed at securing a six-week suspension of Israel’s offensive in exchange for the potential release of 40 of the 130 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas is seeking to leverage any agreement into an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region. However, Israel has categorically rejected this demand, asserting its intention to resume efforts to dismantle Hamas’s governance and military capabilities once any ceasefire is in place.
Furthermore, Hamas is advocating for the return of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who were displaced from Gaza City and surrounding areas during the initial stages of the conflict in the truce negotiations. While Israel has indicated a willingness to discuss the return of some of the displaced individuals, it has not committed to allowing all those displaced to return.
The toll of the conflict on civilian populations has been severe, with more than 32,000 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7, according to health authorities in the territory.
The outbreak of hostilities occurred after Hamas militants breached the border and launched attacks on communities in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 253 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Israel continued its aerial and ground bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Friday, resulting in the deaths of 82 Palestinians over the past 24 hours, as reported by the territory’s health ministry. Fighting intensified around Gaza City’s primary medical facility, Al Shifa hospital, with Israeli forces allegedly blockading 107 patients in the hospital’s human resources department, depriving them of essential supplies such as water, electricity, and medication for several days.
The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad claimed that their fighters were engaged in battles with Israeli forces around Al Shifa hospital, which had been one of the few operational healthcare facilities in north Gaza before the conflict escalated.
The Israeli military stated that its forces operating in Al Shifa had killed three Hamas commanders inside the medical facility’s buildings. The military reported discovering sniper rifles, AK-47s, magazines, and grenades during their operation.
Israel asserted that it had targeted and apprehended hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters at Al Shifa during its raid, while Hamas and medical personnel denied the presence of armed individuals inside medical facilities, accusing Israel of targeting civilians.
The resumption of truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Cairo signifies ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire and address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. However, significant challenges remain, including Hamas’s demands for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, as well as Israel’s determination to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure. The toll on civilian populations has been devastating, underscoring the urgency of reaching a resolution to the conflict.