No Agreement in Cairo: Israeli-Hamas Talks End Without Deal

The ceasefire talks held in Cairo on Sunday between Israeli and Hamas delegations ended without reaching an agreement. Despite mediation efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, the discussions could not resolve several critical issues. One major point of contention was the presence of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi Corridor, a key area along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Hamas demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from this corridor, while Israel’s position involved complex conditions regarding the release of Palestinian detainees. Israel insisted that any released individuals should exit Gaza, a demand that Hamas opposed. Additionally, Hamas accused Israel of backtracking on previous commitments and introducing new conditions related to displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza.

The talks were described as “constructive” by a senior U.S. official, and it was agreed that working groups would continue to address the unresolved issues in the coming days. The core of the dispute remains the need for a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, which Hamas insists upon. The discussions follow months of intense conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military response.

Despite the lack of a final agreement, the ongoing dialogue reflects efforts to find a resolution to the conflict. Both sides will continue working through the issues with the hope of reaching a comprehensive ceasefire in the future.