Hamas and mediators discuss ceasefire in Cairo

Cairo is the meeting point this Saturday for a Hamas delegation and mediators from Qatar and Egypt to be informed about the progress of the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“A Hamas delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya will arrive in Cairo this afternoon at the invitation of the mediating brothers from Egypt and Qatar to hear the results of the negotiations that took place in Cairo,” the Islamist group said in a statement.

Hamas and mediators in Cairo

This past Friday in Cairo, Egypt, the United States and Israel held talks to try to close the agreement. The talks took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere ahead of the next round of negotiations scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday.

The Islamist group continues to accept the draft agreed on July 2, in a US proposal announced in May by President Joe Biden. It provides for the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave in a second phase.

Hamas confirms its commitment to what was agreed on July 2, based on the Biden Declaration and the Security Council resolution,” the group added, stressing its commitment to implement what has already been agreed and calling for pressure on Israel to “stop obstructing the achievement of an agreement.”

Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mardawi told Al Quds News, a channel linked to the Islamist group, that there is no question of a new round of negotiations. He made it clear that they are simply going to listen to the mediators, as they see no point in “reopening talks on matters already agreed upon.”

In the text, Hamas accused Netanyahu of imposing new conditions for the ceasefire. These include maintaining the Israeli military presence in certain Gaza corridors and refusing to sign a definitive agreement to cease hostilities, reserving the option of resuming the war.

Faced with the renewed deadlock in negotiations in July, the US presented a new proposal two weeks ago to “build bridges.”

This approach attempted to unify the demands of both sides, but was flatly rejected by Hamas as a “coup d’état.” It is alleged that it only serves the interests of Israel.

Hamas refused to return to Doha and Cairo this week to resume negotiations, which an Israeli delegation did attend along with mediators. In the absence of such a move, they argue that the new draft does not address their main demands and leaves a definitive ceasefire and Israeli military withdrawal to be discussed once the first phase of the release of Palestinian prisoners is completed.

The dialogue stalled after July 31, when Hamas’ top political leader and chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, were assassinated in Tehran in an attack attributed to Israel.

(With information from EFE)

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