Following the tragedy witnessed on Haroun Al-Rashid Street in northern Gaza, where more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food aid early Thursday, talks between Israel and Hamas, which hinted at halting the negotiations yesterday, are ongoing.
Two Egyptian security sources revealed today, Saturday, that ceasefire negotiations are set to resume tomorrow, Sunday, in Cairo. They explained that the parties have agreed on the duration of the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of prisoners and detainees. However, they noted that finalizing the deal still requires an agreement on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and the return of its residents.
Additionally, the sources confirmed that the death of over 100 Palestinians from Israeli gunfire while they were seeking aid has not slowed down the talks, but rather encouraged negotiators to speed up efforts to maintain the progress made previously in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, who have been cooperating with the United States to foster a settlement between Hamas and Israel, reiterated the necessity of expediting the ceasefire. Both Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Qatari counterpart, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, emphasized during a meeting today in Doha the urgent need for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange as soon as possible.
It is noteworthy that U.S. President Joe Biden hinted earlier yesterday at the possibility of reaching an agreement between the two sides before Ramadan.
The talks between Hamas and the Israeli side had begun weeks ago based on a preliminary paper approved in Paris last month, but obstacles have prevented reaching a settlement and a new ceasefire in the besieged enclave, the most significant of which are the issues of the return of displaced persons, as well as the release of several Palestinian prisoners sentenced to long-term security-related sentences in Israel.
