Members of the Israeli army work at a staging space close to the border of Gaza throughout a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in November.
Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures
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Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures
Members of the Israeli army work at a staging space close to the border of Gaza throughout a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in November.
Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures
TEL AVIV, Israel — Officers from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. are assembly in Cairo for negotiations round a second cease-fire in Gaza and the discharge of hostages being held by Hamas.
The talks within the Egyptian capital on Tuesday have been anticipated to middle on a plan that might pause the preventing in Gaza for as much as six weeks, and clear the way in which for an additional trade of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages.
The high-stakes assembly is going down as Israel indicators it might quickly launch a floor invasion in Rafah, on the southern tip of Gaza, the place almost 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
On Monday, the Israeli army stated particular forces rescued two hostages from a fancy in Rafah, however Gaza well being officers stated the raid resulted within the deaths of at the very least 74 individuals.
Rafah is on Gaza’s border with Egypt, which has threatened to droop its peace treaty with Israel within the occasion of a significant offensive on Rafah.
Regional de-escalation
Among the many U.S. officers who have been anticipated in Cairo for Tuesday’s negotiations was C.I.A. director William J. Burns. For the reason that begin of the battle, the U.S. has dispatched a number of high-level envoys to the area in hopes of securing a diplomatic breakthrough, however these efforts have confirmed an uphill climb.
Talking from the White Home on Monday, President Biden stated key components of a plan have been ”on the desk,” however stated ”gaps stay” as he inspired events to maintain working towards a deal.
Biden reiterated his help for Israel within the wake of the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 individuals. Some 134 hostages are nonetheless being held by Hamas, with the general public outcry to convey them dwelling placing growing stress on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On the identical time, Biden additionally spoke extra extensively concerning the ”unimaginable ache and loss” by civilians in Gaza. Greater than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive into the territory, in line with well being officers in Gaza. And with the battle getting into its fifth month, the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza is dire, with widespread studies of shortages of meals, clear water and medical provides.
Biden has emphasised that Israel mustn’t proceed with a army operation in Rafah and not using a ”credible plan” for the security of the greater than 1 million individuals sheltering there.
An earlier cease-fire in November, which was mediated by Qatar, resulted within the launch of fifty hostages from Gaza in trade for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. It additionally allowed for some humanitarian support to enter Gaza, which had been primarily blocked off from support since Oct.7.
The cease-fire was initially negotiated for 4 days however was twice prolonged.
Hamas, which was not anticipated to attend the negotiations in Cairo, rejected an Israeli proposal earlier this month as a result of it didn’t embody the entire withdrawal of Israeli troops. Prime Minister Netanyahu final week rejected the counter provide, which would depart Hamas in command of the Gaza Strip as ”delusional.”