There is no hope for a deal between Hamas and Israel before Ramadan.
It seems that the negotiations on the truce in the Gaza Strip have reached a dead end. The American newspaper “The New York Times” reported on Thursday that the cessation of negotiations between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel regarding a hostage exchange deal in the Gaza Strip has greatly reduced the hopes for a ceasefire before the arrival of the truce before the month of Ramdan.
Point of disagreement.
The newspaper quoted several people who it described as familiar with the talks, saying that the main point of contention in the negotiations had been in place for weeks.
It quoted an unnamed regional official as saying that Hamas wanted Israel to adhere to a permanent ceasefire, whether now or after three stages of hostage exchange.
Hamas request rejected.
On the other hand, the regional official said that Israel, with American support, rejected Hamas’s demand, preferring to focus on hostage exchange negotiations.
He added, “Israel asked to focus on an agreement for the first phase only of the hostage exchange deal.”
We will continue to negotiate.
On Wednesday, Hamas announced that it would continue negotiations despite the stumbling block that the talks faced in Cairo.
Hamas said in a statement that they would continue to negotiate through mediators to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Comprehensive stop.
Hamas also added that they “demonstrated the required flexibility with the aim of reaching an agreement requiring a comprehensive cessation of aggression against our people, but the occupation is still evading the entitlements of this agreement, especially what achieves a permanent ceasefire, the return of the displaced, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and providing the needs of our people.”
However, they stressed that discussions are continuing through mediators “to reach an agreement that fulfills the demands and interests of the people of Gaza.”
Cairo talks falter.
During the past few days, in the absence of a delegation from Israel, negotiators from Hamas, Qatar and Egypt met in Cairo to try to reach an agreement on a 40-day truce before Ramadan, which begins next
week.
Hamas demands a complete and permanent ceasefire, as well as the return of the displaced to the northern Gaza Strip, and the intensification of the introduction of aid, while Israel opposes this
demand.
The talks faltered on Tuesday and faced many difficulties, according to Arabian media information.
The last prisoner exchange agreement between the two sides was concluded in late last November, which then led to the release of 105 Israeli prisoners who were detained by Hamas on October 7, in exchange for the release of about 240 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
While 130 Israeli prisoners remain in Gaza, 30 of them are believed to have died, according to Israeli estimates.
During the last 24 hours, another 86 Palestinians were martyred and 113 Palestinians were injured in the attacks of the Israeli forces.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 30 thousand 717 Palestinians have been martyred and 72 thousand 156 Palestinians have been injured as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
On the other hand, negotiations are ongoing in Egypt for a ceasefire before Ramadan, but there has been no breakthrough in the negotiations so far.
Hamas has said in its statement today that Hamas is showing the flexibility needed to end the ongoing aggression in Gaza, but Israel is still avoiding any agreement.
