Israeli Officials to Travel to Cairo to Assess Hamas Ceasefire Offer
A team of mid-ranking Israeli officials is set to travel to Cairo to evaluate Hamas’ latest ceasefire proposal, which has been deemed unacceptable by Israel. The delegation, made up of mid-level envoys, will assess whether there is potential for a credible deal to be reached.
The visit comes shortly after Israeli tanks seized control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Israeli jets have also conducted multiple strikes on eastern Rafah, where over 1 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter during the ongoing conflict.
Efforts to de-escalate the situation are ongoing, with Egyptian officials urging Israel to halt its operation in Rafah. Hamas has accused Israel of undermining ceasefire efforts with its actions.
The latest ceasefire proposal from Hamas includes a phased ceasefire and the release of hostages, with minor changes that Israel finds unacceptable. Hamas is demanding the release of all Palestinian prisoners without Israeli veto power, as well as the import of dual-use materials for Gaza’s rehabilitation.
Under the new proposal, only 18 hostages would be released in the first phase, with the rest to follow in subsequent phases. Israel is hesitant to agree to these terms, as it would mean accepting the ceasefire while only receiving a portion of the hostages.
The situation remains tense as both sides navigate the delicate negotiations. The outcome of the upcoming talks in Cairo will be crucial in determining the next steps in the conflict.