Egypt hosts new round of ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel – Reuters
US and Israeli officials are said to be in Egypt discussing terms aimed at resolving the ongoing Hamas-Israel conflict in Gaza. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Mediators are reportedly working to reach a compromise regarding the terms for ending hostilities in Gaza.
Egypt is currently hosting delegations from the US and Israel to discuss a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, according to a Thursday report from Reuters. The conflict, which escalated in October, has seen Israel targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the enclave.
Negotiations commenced in Cairo on Thursday, with officials aiming to establish agreements concerning security measures along Egypt’s border with Gaza, an area that has been under Israeli occupation since May, as reported by two Egyptian security sources.
“An Israeli security delegation arrived in Cairo with the aim of continuing negotiations for a hostage swap deal,” noted the Israeli state broadcaster KAN.
The current hostilities began following a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, along with around 200 hostages taken by the militants. In retaliation, the Israeli military has conducted a severe campaign in Gaza, leading to over 40,000 deaths and 92,000 injuries, according to Palestinian health officials.
Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have been integral mediators in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a truce and facilitate the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
This latest round of talks, anticipated to last two days, follows negotiations that wrapped up the previous week in Doha, where the US introduced what it termed a “final bridging proposal” to resolve the ten-month conflict. After extensive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in West Jerusalem, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Israeli leader had agreed to the proposal. However, Hamas, which was not part of these negotiations, has rejected the plan, asserting that it reflects Netanyahu's demands, including his insistence on continuing control of the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor.
Cairo and Hamas have called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, an essential route that Israel alleges is used by Hamas for smuggling weapons from Egypt. This corridor is also a crucial entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza. While the Egyptian government maintains that it has secured smuggling routes, Netanyahu insists on maintaining military presence in the area.
Late on Thursday, KAN News quoted an unnamed diplomat involved in the discussions, stating that the mediators “believe that the only way to reach an agreement is to put pressure on Netanyahu.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Egypt is currently hosting delegations from the US and Israel to discuss a ceasefire proposal for Gaza, according to a Thursday report from Reuters. The conflict, which escalated in October, has seen Israel targeting the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the enclave.
Negotiations commenced in Cairo on Thursday, with officials aiming to establish agreements concerning security measures along Egypt’s border with Gaza, an area that has been under Israeli occupation since May, as reported by two Egyptian security sources.
“An Israeli security delegation arrived in Cairo with the aim of continuing negotiations for a hostage swap deal,” noted the Israeli state broadcaster KAN.
The current hostilities began following a surprise attack by Hamas on southern Israel in October, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, along with around 200 hostages taken by the militants. In retaliation, the Israeli military has conducted a severe campaign in Gaza, leading to over 40,000 deaths and 92,000 injuries, according to Palestinian health officials.
Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have been integral mediators in the ongoing efforts to negotiate a truce and facilitate the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
This latest round of talks, anticipated to last two days, follows negotiations that wrapped up the previous week in Doha, where the US introduced what it termed a “final bridging proposal” to resolve the ten-month conflict. After extensive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in West Jerusalem, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Israeli leader had agreed to the proposal. However, Hamas, which was not part of these negotiations, has rejected the plan, asserting that it reflects Netanyahu's demands, including his insistence on continuing control of the Netzarim Junction, the Rafah crossing, and the Philadelphi Corridor.
Cairo and Hamas have called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, an essential route that Israel alleges is used by Hamas for smuggling weapons from Egypt. This corridor is also a crucial entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza. While the Egyptian government maintains that it has secured smuggling routes, Netanyahu insists on maintaining military presence in the area.
Late on Thursday, KAN News quoted an unnamed diplomat involved in the discussions, stating that the mediators “believe that the only way to reach an agreement is to put pressure on Netanyahu.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
