The Hamas delegation in Egypt has reportedly made significant progress in ceasefire negotiations after months of deadlock, as stated by Egyptian media.
According to Egyptian state Al-Qahera news, Hamas and Israel have reached an agreement on many disputed issues, although specific details were not provided. However, some Israeli officials have contested this information. An Israeli official told the Associated Press that even if a deal is reached to release the remaining hostages held by Hamas, it would not prevent Israel from invading Rafah or ending the war.
The current talks in Cairo, involving Egyptian and Hamas officials, aim to de-escalate the conflict in phases. The initial phase proposes a 40-day ceasefire to prevent the Rafah operation in exchange for the release of female hostages. Subsequent phases would involve Israel’s withdrawal from a coastal road, allowing Gazans to return to their homes in the north, and facilitating humanitarian aid. Talks in the third week would focus on formally ending the war while Israeli troops withdraw from Central Gaza.
The negotiations seek to establish a ceasefire based on less contentious issues while postponing more divisive matters for future discussions. Long-term questions regarding the status of Hamas post-war, control of the Gaza Strip, and a possible Israeli military presence will be addressed in subsequent talks.
If progress is made in the discussions, Israel has indicated that it will send a delegation to Cairo for further negotiations, as stated by an Israeli official speaking to AFP.
Hamas is under pressure both domestically and internationally to accept a deal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly urged Qatar to expel Hamas leadership from the country if they do not agree to a hostage deal, according to the Washington Post.
Israel faces its own challenges and dilemmas. Accepting a hostage deal as part of a lasting peace agreement may not align with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise of “total victory,” potentially causing discord among far-right members of his government who have threatened to resign if a peace deal is reached without complete success against Hamas.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza is the deadliest since Israel’s independence in 1948, with casualties estimated in the tens of thousands. This includes the deaths of 1,200 primarily civilian Israelis during Hamas’s initial attacks on October 7.
