Hamas Sends Delegation to Egypt for Cease-Fire Talks
In a significant development in the ongoing efforts to secure a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the militant group announced on Thursday that it would be sending a delegation to Egypt for further talks. This move comes as international mediators continue to work towards ending the war in Gaza.
After months of negotiations, the cease-fire efforts have now reached a critical stage, with signs of compromise being reported by Egyptian and American mediators. However, the key question remains whether Israel will agree to end the war without achieving its goal of destroying Hamas.
The stakes in the negotiations were highlighted in a recent U.N. report, which stated that even if the war were to stop today, it would take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes destroyed during the conflict. The report also warned of the long-term impact on the economy and development in the region.
The proposed three-stage process put forward by U.S. and Egyptian mediators includes an immediate six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages, with negotiations for a “permanent calm” that involves an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas is seeking guarantees for a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
While Hamas has sent mixed signals about the proposal, its supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh, expressed a positive spirit towards studying the cease-fire proposal. The delegation’s trip to Cairo aims to continue discussions towards reaching an agreement.
The hope is that a deal will bring an end to a conflict that has resulted in significant casualties and destruction in Gaza. The immediate fate of the agreement hinges on Hamas accepting uncertainty over the final phases of the deal and postponing a potential Israeli assault on Rafah.
As the negotiations continue, the international community is closely watching the developments, with the aim of bringing an end to the devastating war in Gaza.