jordan pulse -
After the talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip resumed in Cairo on Saturday, amid mutual accusations between the Israeli occupation and the Palestinian resistance of obstructing any agreement, Hamas revealed negative indicators.
A source from Hamas clarified to the American CBS network today, Sunday, that the round of negotiations held yesterday did not make progress.
The source, who was not named, added that a new round would be held today.
Sources reported by Al Arabiya Al Hadath indicated that Hamas requested more time to review a number of clauses before delivering the final response. They also requested amendments to several clauses and obtaining necessary guarantees for the implementation of what is agreed upon, in writing.
Meanwhile, the sources explained that the movement agreed to release 33 Israeli detainees during the “first phase,” contrary to its previous stance, especially since it indicated at the beginning of the negotiations that it only had 20 prisoners. However, it seems that they were able to reach the rest of the detained civilians.
Rafah and the War Cessation
As for the most prominent points of contention, they still revolve around the issue of the Rafah incursion, as well as the definitive cessation of the war, which the Israeli occupation categorically opposes.
An official in the occupation considered yesterday that Hamas “obstructs the possibility of reaching an agreement” for a ceasefire in Gaza by insisting on the demand to stop the war in the sector.
He also confirmed that “the information indicating that Israel agreed to put an end to the war, within the framework of an agreement on a prisoner exchange or that Tel Aviv would allow mediators to guarantee the cessation of the war, is inaccurate.”
It is worth noting that a delegation from Hamas traveled to Cairo a few days ago to discuss the details of a new ceasefire agreement in the devastated Palestinian sector, while the occupation announced that it would not send a delegation to the negotiations until the movement responds to the Egyptian proposal presented about a week ago, as the latest suggestion regarding the anticipated truce in Gaza after seven months of war.
Mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States continue, aiming to reach a truce and the release of Israeli prisoners in the sector in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, which has been negotiated behind the scenes.
Two American officials and an informed source reported that William Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), went to Cairo last Friday to attend the latest rounds of those talks, as reported by the CBS network.