As the world watches, Israel and Hamas continue to engage in a brutal conflict in Gaza. Despite efforts by mediating countries to bring them closer to a ceasefire agreement, both sides have accused each other of hindering progress. The main stumbling block is the terms for a truce and the exchange of hostages and detainees, which has put talks at risk.
In a recent meeting in Cairo with Hamas representatives and mediators, Hamas emphasized the need for a permanent end to the conflict as a condition for any agreement. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected this condition, stating that complying with Hamas’ demands would be a defeat for Israel. The head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, accused Netanyahu of sabotaging truce efforts.
Israel did not send a delegation to Cairo, waiting for a positive development regarding a potential hostage deal before deciding whether or not to participate in talks again. Talks resumed with mediators on Sunday after failing to make progress during the previous round. Meanwhile, Israel has threatened to launch a ground attack on Rafah, a city in Gaza, as an alternative means of eliminating Hamas. The United Nations has warned against such an attack without proper plans in place to protect civilians from harm.
As negotiations continue in Cairo, both parties remain unwilling to compromise on their terms for a truce. It remains uncertain whether these talks will lead to an end to the conflict or if they will ultimately fail due to differences between the two sides.