Title: Hamas political bureau chief travels to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire negotiations
The head of Hamas’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, has arrived in Cairo for talks on the Gaza war, with hopes growing that the Palestinian group and Israel could agree to end the conflict with another ceasefire.
Haniyeh’s visit comes as Israel’s government signals that it is open to another truce, indicating that there are positive indications for a potential agreement. However, there are key sticking points that remain between the two sides.
The Hamas leader arrived in the Egyptian capital on Wednesday for discussions with Cairo’s spy chief and other Egyptian officials who are key mediators. At the same time, Israeli officials have expressed openness to a truce deal in discussions with US and Qatari representatives.
Haniyeh is planning to discuss “stopping the aggression” in Gaza, a Hamas source told the AFP news agency. The international community is pressing for an agreement, particularly as the devastating Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed nearly 20,000 people, including 7,729 children, and left 1.9 million displaced and in need of urgent assistance.
Efforts to secure a ceasefire come after a truce that ran from November 24 to December 1 allowed international agencies to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza. During that truce, Israel released 240 Palestinian prisoners, and Hamas returned 100 Israelis and others taken captive during previous attacks, which ultimately led to Israel’s retaliation.
While Israel has continued its offensive on Gaza, it has initiated indirect talks aimed at establishing a new ceasefire and securing the release of more captives through mediation by Egypt and Qatar.
Haniyeh’s visit follows an intensive diplomatic effort by Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu receiving positive indications from a meeting held in Warsaw. The Israeli government is reportedly seeking a “humanitarian” deal to secure the release by Hamas of female and elderly captives, as well as those who are physically or mentally ill.
However, major sticking points for a new deal remain between Israel and Hamas, as hardliners in the Israeli government and Hamas officials have expressed varying demands. Netanyahu has pledged to continue Israel’s military offensive, while Hamas maintains that a ceasefire must be established before agreeing to release any more captives.
Despite these differences, there are strong indications that a push is underway to come up with an agreement in the upcoming days. Palestinian officials have expressed readiness for a deal, but emphasize that a permanent ceasefire must be established to end the suffering of the people in Gaza.