This Thursday, Israeli and Qatari delegations arrived in Cairo to kick off crucial ceasefire talks regarding Gaza, with the support of U.S. representatives. Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) reported that the discussions are focused on advancing the ongoing Gaza truce and finding ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region.
The negotiations come at a pivotal time, following the successful exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners under the initial 42-day phase of the truce, which is set to expire this Saturday. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed the dispatch of a negotiating delegation to Cairo to continue these vital talks.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar stated, \"Our delegation will go to Cairo and see whether we have common ground to negotiate.\" He added that Israel is prepared to extend the current framework in exchange for the release of more hostages. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen highlighted that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, emphasizing that their release is a top priority for Israel.
On the other side, Hamas has expressed readiness to engage in second-phase talks, asserting that the continuation of the ceasefire is essential for the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza.
This ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement, which began on January 19, was brokered by Qatar and Egypt with support from the United States. The current negotiations aim to ensure the stability of the region and alleviate the humanitarian challenges faced by the people in Gaza.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
