According to two Hamas sources, Egyptian security officials hosted Hamas leaders on Sunday in a fresh move for ceasefire talks in the Gaza conflict. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to hold security discussions on the issue, per sources in Israel's administration.
The Cairo-based Egypt and Hamas negotiations came after the US announced last Wednesday that it would revive efforts in collaborating with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar towards negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza that would include a hostage deal. While speaking with CNN officials on Sunday, White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said he thought that the likelihood of a ceasefire and hostage deal in the Palestinian territory is now higher.
“(Hamas) are isolated. Hezbollah is no longer fighting with them, and their backers in Iran and elsewhere are preoccupied with other conflicts. So I think we may have a chance to make progress, but I’m not going to predict exactly when it will happen… we’ve come so close so many times and not gotten across the finish line.”
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar made a similar observation after saying on Sunday that there were some progress signs towards a hostage deal. However, Saar reinstates Israel's conditions for ending the war.
Hamas, in previous negotiations, has insisted that any deal should conclude with Israel ending the war. Israel has said the war will end when Hamas no longer rules Gaza or poses a threat to Israelis.
On what could become of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict shortly, Saar observes," We will know in the coming days. From our perspective, the government of Israel, there is a desire to advance in this direction." Saar made these remarks during an Israel Hayom newspaper conference.
Looting Impairs Gaza Aid Delivery
The head of the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) said it had to halt aid deliveries through one crossing a day after armed bandits from Gaza seized food from a truck carrying aid. UNRWA halted the conveyance of aid deliveries through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing almost two weeks after a large shipment was hijacked within the same route.
While commenting on the development via a social media post on X, UNRWA’s Phillipee Lazzarini said it was Israel’s role “as occupying power” to protect aid workers and supplies. Lazzarini added that what he described as Israeli restrictions made the humanitarian operations “unnecessarily impossible.”
Meanwhile, COGAT, the Israeli military department in charge of aid transfers, denies it hindered humanitarian relief into Gaza. COGAT says it has placed no limit on civilian supplies while blaming an "inefficient" United Nations for the delays.
Final Remarks
Egypt hosts Hamas for Gaza ceasefire talks amid aid challenges. The meeting comes less than one week after the US government announced it would work with Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar towards facilitating ceasefire talks in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, Israel has had to deny allegations that its military is restricting aid deliveries to Gaza after looting in Israeli-occupied territory repeatedly impeded aid transfer while blaming the UN, which it termed "inefficient," for the delays.