2024-04-07 18:23:52
Ceasefire talks and the release of hostages held by Hamas continued in Cairo on Sunday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under increasing pressure both internationally and at home.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday night to protest against Netanyahu’s government. They are demanding more efforts to free the hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
Last week’s attack by Israeli forces on an aid convoy sparked outrage among some of Israel’s staunchest international allies. During an airstrike in the Gaza Strip on April 1. seven employees of the US-based food charity World Central Kitchen were killed.
A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas plans to travel to Cairo on Sunday to negotiate a possible ceasefire. In recent weeks, the talks kept breaking down.
Hamas insists its main demands remain a full ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces. These conditions have been previously rejected by Israel.
Washington blames the stalled talks on Hamas, which has refused to release sick and other vulnerable hostages, while Qatar has said the main obstacle is Israel’s objections to the return of displaced Gazans.
Ahead of the talks, US President Joe Biden wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar urging them to secure Hamas’ commitment to “accept and abide by the agreement”, a senior administration official told AFP.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Biden also discussed “empowering his negotiators” in a phone call with Netanyahu on Thursday to reach an agreement.
US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani will participate in indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas delegations starting Sunday in Cairo along with Egyptian officials, the Egyptian news agency Al-Qahera News reported. .
The hostilities began on October 7 last year, when hundreds of terrorists, mostly from Hamas but also from other groups based in the Gaza Strip, stormed across the heavily guarded border with Israel and massacred people in nearby communities and at a music festival.
About 1,200 people were killed in Israel and another 250 people were taken hostage and taken to Gaza. Dozens have since been released, and several more have been found dead or freed by the Israeli military.
The unprecedented attack triggered a massive Israeli airstrikes operation, followed by a military ground offensive in the north, covering all major cities except Rafah in the southernmost part.
According to Hamas authorities in Gaza, more than 32,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks.
2024-04-07 18:23:52