The latest round of high-level ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, held in Cairo, has concluded without an agreement, further prolonging the 10-month-long conflict in Gaza. Despite the setback, lower-level talks are set to continue in the coming days, according to a senior US official who described the recent discussions as ‘meaningful’.Key points of contention remain unresolved, chief among them being the Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14.5-kilometer strip along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. Hamas has accused Israel of backtracking on its commitment to withdraw troops from this area and introducing new conditions, including controls over displaced Palestinians returning to northern Gaza.Hamas official Osama Hamdan reiterated the group’s position, stating, ‘We will not accept discussions about retractions from what we agreed to on July 2 or new conditions’. The group insists that any agreement must include a permanent ceasefire, complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, freedom of return for residents, aid and reconstruction, and a prisoner exchange deal.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance remains firm, with reports suggesting that he is refusing to make a deal with Hamas for political reasons, both domestically and internationally. The Israeli delegation, led by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, has returned to brief Netanyahu on the negotiations.Despite the lack of progress, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized that Washington continues to work ‘vigorously’ with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, as well as with Israel, to achieve a ceasefire and an agreement on hostages. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, with local authorities reporting over 40,400 casualties since the conflict began.
Key points
- High-level ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas in Cairo ended without agreement.
- Lower-level negotiations are set to continue in the coming days.
- Key points of contention include Israeli military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor and control over returning Palestinian refugees.
- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues with over 40,400 reported casualties.
Contradictions👾While some sources report that both Israeli and Hamas delegations have left Cairo, others indicate that lower-level talks will continue.
