The most recent round of talks in Cairo aimed at reviving the Gaza ceasefire and releasing Israeli hostages broke down without a breakthrough, as Israel and Hamas stuck to their conflicting demands.
Hamas demanded, in a Reuters report citing Egyptian and Palestinian officials, that any future truce have to end up eventually in the complete cessation of the war. Israel, on its part, reaffirmed that it would not stop its military operation until Hamas was defeated.
Hostage-Prisoner Deal Remains Stuck
Although they disagreed on larger terms, negotiators were able to see some area for negotiation on the hostage exchange. A Hamas delegation, headed by Gaza Chief Khalil Al-Hayya, showed limited flexibility about expanding the number of hostages it would free in exchange for Palestinian prisoners — but only if the ceasefire was extended.
An Egyptian source reported that Hamas has asked for additional time to reply to the most recent offer, which includes a clause for the release of additional hostages than originally agreed upon.
“Hamas has no issue, but it needs assurances Israel commits to starting the negotiations on the second stage of the ceasefire deal for a conclusion of the war,” Reuters cited the Egyptian source.
Israeli Minister Zeev Elkin said that Israel is currently asking for the release of approximately 10 hostages, doubling the original number Hamas had suggested.
First Phase Truce Failed to Pave the Way for Peace
The initial stage of the truce commenced in January and took six weeks to finish, after which Hamas released 33 hostages against hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Nonetheless, its follow-up, the second phase planned to be an introduction for bigger peace negotiations as well as permanent cessation of the hostilities, never existed.
Since Israel resumed its military activities last month, more than 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, local authorities report, many of them civilians. The stepped-up airstrikes and ground incursions have left hundreds of thousands displaced, as Israel continues to block the entry of vital supplies into Gaza.
Humanitarian Devastation on the Ground
In northern Gaza’s Jabalia, rescue workers struggled to retrieve bodies buried beneath rubble from an Israeli airstrike. At least 25 people were reportedly killed in that single strike. Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, makeshift camps set up by displaced families
