On its third day.. Gaza negotiations continue amid Egyptian optimism

On Thursday, the “Gaza truce” negotiations hosted by the Egyptian capital, Cairo, enter their third day amid indications that the “maturity of the agreement” is near, according to local media, citing a senior Egyptian source familiar with the talks.

On Wednesday, Egyptian media quoted the source as saying that talks on the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are taking place “amid remarkable agreement with some controversial points,” while a Hamas leader said that Israel is not serious about reaching an agreement to end the war that has been ongoing for several years. More than 7 months.

Cairo News Channel, quoting a senior Egyptian source, explained that the discussions are still ongoing in the presence of Qatari, American, and Hamas delegations, indicating that Egypt is intensifying its efforts “to maintain the negotiating track.”

The source indicated to the Egyptian channel that the Palestinian factions participating in the negotiations (Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front) are open to reaching an agreement, as the ceasefire clause has been amended, to become “a return to sustainable calm leading to a permanent ceasefire.”

The source confirmed that there are signs that the agreement regarding the Gaza truce is maturing, and that negotiations will be completed on Thursday, in order to resolve the “controversial points.” He also pointed out that Israel deleted the phrase “permanent ceasefire” and kept the word “sustainable” from the draft agreement, which allows it to return at any time without commitment.

For its part, the White House said that talks on releasing detainees are “continuing,” and that Israel and Hamas are “close enough” to reaching an agreement that allows them to bridge the gaps in their positions.

In turn, Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq accused Israel of fabricating pretexts to evade the negotiations in Cairo, stressing that Tel Aviv is not serious about reaching an agreement, again accusing it of insisting on invading Rafah in the far south of the Strip.

Regarding the humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip, the Director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned that closing the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza prevents the entry of fuel, halting all humanitarian operations in the region.

Ghebreyesus said on the “X” platform that hospitals in southern Gaza may stop their services within 3 days after they run out of fuel.

The Director of the World Health Organization called for an immediate halt to the military operation in Rafah, as it “further limits the organization’s ability to reach thousands who live in miserable conditions.” (the East)