CAIRO: Ceasefire and hostage negotiators gathered in Cairo on Saturday to discuss new compromise proposals aimed at bridging the gap between Israel and Hamas. However, after hours of talks, there was no indication of any progress.
A Palestinian official involved in the mediation effort revealed that the discussions in Cairo stalled due to Israel’s insistence on maintaining control over eight positions along the Philadelphi Corridor. “The talks in Cairo didn’t make any progress,” the official told Reuters, under condition of anonymity.
The negotiations took place amidst a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where malnutrition is soaring, and a case of polio has been reported in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli military strikes on Saturday alone resulted in 50 deaths, with victims trapped under rubble or lying on roads where fighting persisted, according to Palestinian health authorities.
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A Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo on Saturday to stay close to the talks, which involved Israel, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States as mediators. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been actively shuttling between Jerusalem, Cairo, and Doha, urging a ceasefire deal that would halt the fighting and secure the release of Israeli captives.
Despite the efforts, key sticking points remain unresolved, including Israel’s demand to retain control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which borders Gaza and Egypt. Hamas has accused Israel of reneging on previous agreements, a claim Israel denies. The militant group also criticizes the United States for what it perceives as biased mediation.
The ongoing conflict continues to exacerbate the suffering of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, most of whom are displaced and living in dire conditions. The UN’s humanitarian agency OCHA reported a sharp increase in malnutrition and a severe shortage of food aid. The World Health Organization also raised concerns over a polio outbreak in the territory, the first in 25 years.
Read Also: Israeli Strikes Kill 25, Including 6 Children in Gaza, Amid Ceasefire Talks
Further escalation looms as Iran considers retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last month. Meanwhile, US Air Force General C.Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, began an unannounced visit to the Middle East on Saturday to discuss strategies for preventing further escalation, particularly with tensions rising between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
