CAIRO: A delegation of Palestinian resistance group Hamas was expected to fly to Cairo Saturday for talks on a truce in Gaza, a source close to the group told AFP, as mediators scrambled to secure a deal.
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been actively involved in shuttle diplomacy between Israeli and Hamas negotiators, aiming to broker a pause in the hostilities before the onset of the holy month of Ramadan, likely to commence on March 10 or 11.
While there was hope from Washington and Doha for a possible ceasefire, US President Joe Biden tempered expectations on Thursday, citing the recent tragic incident where over 100 Palestinian civilians were killed while seeking aid in Gaza.
The Hamas delegation will hold talks with Egyptian officials overseeing the ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, with the objective of advancing discussions to halt the offensive and reach a hostage exchange agreement, the source noted, speaking anonymously to AFP due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Hamas Team to Present Response to Ceasefire Proposal
Reportedly, the delegation will present the Palestinian resistance group’s official response to a proposal discussed with Israeli negotiators in Paris last month. This proposal includes a six-week truce period, during which Hamas would release 42 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The White House had previously indicated that such a hostage release would lead to an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza over the designated period.
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless and brutal bombardment campaign in Gaza. At least 30,320 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing relentless Israeli air strikes and ground attacks in the besieged Gaza Strip, the territory’s health ministry reported.
Beyond halting the offensive, Hamas is pushing for new truce terms to ensure humanitarian relief for Gazans, an Israeli withdrawal, and the repatriation of displaced Palestinians from the northern regions, according to the source.
