2024-03-03 04:44:26
On Saturday, 4 informed sources said that the mediators are expected to meet in Cairo, on Sunday, in search of an “acceptable formula” for Israel and the Hamas movement, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza, with increasing pressure ahead of the month of Ramadan to approve a truce, even if it is temporary.
Two Egyptian security sources said that the delegations of Israel and Hamas are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday.
Over the past few days, hopes have increased for achieving the first cessation of fighting since November, following a round of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and indications from US President Joe Biden that an agreement is close to being reached.
But what are the most prominent points of disagreement that disrupt or prolong negotiations?
1. A truce or an end to the war
- The two Egyptian sources and a Hamas official said that the movement has not backed down from its position, that the temporary truce must be the beginning of a process aimed at ending the war completely.
- But the Egyptian sources said that guarantees had been given to Hamas that the conditions for a permanent ceasefire would be set in the second and third phases of the agreement.
- The two sources said that the initial cessation of fighting had been agreed upon, a phase expected to last about 6 weeks.
- Hamas has not yet responded to a request for comment on these guarantees, or whether they are sufficient to move forward with the six-week cessation of fighting.
- “With regard to ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, there is still a gap between the positions of the two parties,” said a Palestinian official familiar with the mediation efforts.
- Israel is still committed to invading the city of Rafah, south of Gaza, and completely eliminating the Hamas movement.
- A senior US administration official said on Saturday that the six-week truce framework has been put in place with Israel’s approval, and that the matter now depends on Hamas’ agreement to release the hostages.
2. Numbers of hostages
- A source familiar with the talks said that Israel will not send any delegation to the Cairo talks, unless Hamas clarifies how many hostages will be released from Gaza, and how many are still alive.
- Hamas confirmed during the past few days that about 70 hostages were killed in Israeli military operations.
- The source, who requested anonymity, said that Israel also wants Hamas to agree to a percentage of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each hostage.
- A draft proposal put forward in Paris last February and sent to Hamas a few days ago indicates that progress has been made on a number of issues, and proposed a total ratio of 10 Palestinian prisoners in Israel in exchange for the release of each hostage.
3. Withdrawal of Israeli forces and return of residents
- The two Egyptian sources stated that completing the deal still requires agreeing on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and the return of residents who were displaced to the south.
- Israel is committed to keeping its forces on the ground in some areas of Gaza.
- A source familiar with the talks said that the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza is not the main obstacle for Israel.
4. Aid
- The draft proposal also included a commitment to increase humanitarian aid to the sector, which suffers from severe food and medicine shortages, with more than half of the population displaced.
- It is not clear whether the killing of dozens of Palestinians, who were waiting for aid to arrive near Gaza City on Thursday, will affect the timing of reaching any agreement.
- Israel insists on placing restrictions on the arrival of aid to the Gaza Strip, especially its north, but it allows aid to be dropped by air, which is what several countries do, the latest of which is the United States.
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