Cairo ceasefire talks collapse amid Isreal boycott
EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Palestinians react at al-Aqsa hospital in Deir el-Balah as they mourn over the bodies of loved ones killed during Israeli bombardment, in the central Gaza Strip, on March 6, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. (Photo by AFP)
The departure of the Hamas delegation from Cairo without a ceasefire agreement has plunged Gaza into despair amidst a deepening humanitarian crisis following five months of conflict.
With Israel boycotting the talks, the delegation left Cairo on Thursday, after four days of dead end discussions.
A statement from the movement noted that the delegation left Cairo to discuss with the movement’s leaders, efforts to halt aggression, facilitate the return of displaced individuals, and deliver essential aid to the Palestinian population.
According to Isreal, it boycotted the talks due to Hamas’s refusal to provide a list of living hostages in advance.
Senior US administration officials placed the responsibility to finalize a hostage deal on the Palestinian movement and attributed the delay to Hamas’s reluctance to release sick and elderly hostages.
Hamas, on the other hand, insisted on Israel committing to a phased troop withdrawal as a precondition for any ceasefire agreement, saying a ceasefire deal should include a path towards ending the conflict entirely.
The looming threat of an Israeli invasion of Rafah adds to the already dire circumstances as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had set a March 10 deadline for the return of hostages, raising concerns about potential civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and the collapse of the humanitarian response.
Netanyahu has vowed to press on with the military campaign into Rafah in response to the attack on southern Israel by the Hamas.
The Egyptian security sources indicated that talks without an Israeli delegation will resume in Cairo on Sunday, the expected start of Ramadan.
