Gaza ceasefire talks end in Cairo without substantial progress

Middle East, News March 8, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Hamas’s delegation left Cairo on March 7, 2024, as a four-day-long discussion regarding a ceasefire agreement in Gaza ended without substantial progress. The mediators from Qatar and Egypt had been trying to secure a 40-day-long ceasefire in Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

A senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri accused Israel of “thwarting” efforts to conclude a ceasefire deal in Gaza. According to a statement released by Hamas, “Hamas’s delegation left Cairo this morning for consultation with the leadership of the movement, with negotiations and efforts continuing to stop the aggression, return the displaced, and bring in relief aid to our people”.

Abu Zuhri mentioned that Israel refused Hamas’s ceasefire condition which included an end to its offensive operations in Gaza, a complete withdrawal of its forces, and a guarantee of unrestricted entry for aid into Gaza as well as the repatriation of displaced individuals.

Israel did not participate in the recent leg of the negotiation discussion in Cairo. However, on the same day as the ceasefire negotiations were taking place, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to continue the military campaign in Gaza.

Israeli administration has previously stated its objective to destroy Hamas and insists that any ceasefire should be temporary. Additionally, Israel has demanded a list of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza who are still alive.

^{Israeli soldiers work on a tank near the border with Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from southern Israel on December 3, 2023. (Image Credit: Reuters/Alexander Ermochenko)}

“Needless to say, Israel will do whatever it takes to release our hostages. We’ve made very, very clear and this has been reiterated by the U.S. that, unfortunately, it is Hamas who is the stumbling block right now by not telling us who is alive and who they have in their custody,” Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said on March 7, 2024.

The U.S. has also been pushing to achieve a ceasefire deal before the month of Ramadan, without a substantial breakthrough. U.S. President Joe Biden said earlier this week that a deal for a ceasefire was in the hands of Hamas. However, two U.S. officials, who were present in Cairo during the ceasefire discussion, said that the prospects of a truce between Hamas and Israel are not promising.

“We continue to believe that obstacles are not insurmountable and a deal can be reached, so we’re going to continue to push for one,” U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said in Washington.

The standstill between the two warring parties has come down to making the first move. Israel has been pushing for the release of the hostages to consider a ceasefire, while Hamas said a ceasefire must be put in place before any of the captives are freed.

As the two parties fail to achieve a ceasefire deal, the number of civilian deaths in Gaza is piling up with each passing. The Ministry of Health in Gaza said the number of Palestinians confirmed killed in Israel’s war has surpassed 30,800. It reported 83 deaths within the latest 24-hour reporting period alone, and witnesses said Israeli bombardments continued in Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza as well as in areas in the central part of the strip.