The United States stated that "very serious" negotiations are underway regarding a new ceasefire in Gaza and the release of additional Israeli hostages, but the prospects for an agreement remain unclear, with Hamas insisting on not discussing anything short of a complete cessation of the Israeli offensive in the Palestinian territory. Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas's political bureau, visited Egypt yesterday, Wednesday, for the first time in over a month for talks with Egyptian officials seeking to mediate another truce.
A source familiar with the negotiations revealed that the envoys are focusing their discussions on identifying the hostages that can be released if a new ceasefire is agreed upon and the Palestinian detainees that Israel may release in return. The Islamic Jihad Movement, which holds hostages in Gaza, also announced that its leader will visit Egypt in the coming days to discuss ways to end the conflict.
White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One yesterday, "These are very serious discussions and negotiations, and we hope they lead to some outcome." However, Taher al-Nounou, Haniyeh's media advisor, told Reuters that Hamas is not prepared to discuss the release of more Israeli hostages until Israel finishes its military campaign in Gaza and increases humanitarian aid for civilians.
Al-Nounou stated in an interview in Cairo, "The issue of prisoners can be negotiated after these two matters. We cannot talk about negotiations while Israel continues its aggression. Any discussion related to prisoners must occur after ceasing the aggression." He added, "The movement's delegation provided a thorough explanation of the field and political conditions and the needs required to improve humanitarian conditions and increase aid to the Palestinian people, delivering this aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip in the north and south."
Hamas rejects any further temporary halt to the Israeli military campaign and asserts it will only discuss a permanent ceasefire. Al-Nounou said, "We have spoken with our brothers in Egypt clearly about our position regarding this aggression and the necessity to stop it as a priority now." According to the source familiar with the negotiations, Israel insists on the release of all remaining women and elderly men among the hostages, and the list of Palestinian prisoners that Israel would release may include those convicted of serious crimes.
Israel has been conducting its ongoing operation in Gaza for over 10 weeks, aiming to eliminate Hamas after its fighters attacked Israel on October 7. This attack resulted in the capture of about 240 hostages and the death of 1,200 people, according to Israel. Since then, Israel has launched a large-scale ground and air assault on the coastal territory, with the Gaza Health Ministry confirming the deaths of nearly 20,000, with thousands of bodies potentially buried under the rubble.
International relief groups state that the 2.3 million residents of Gaza are on the brink of disaster due to the comprehensive destruction that has forced 90% of them to leave their homes, many suffering from malnutrition and severe shortages of clean water and medical care. U.S. President Joe Biden stated yesterday that he does not expect a second agreement for the release of hostages between Israel and Hamas to materialize soon, but he told reporters, "We are applying pressure."
Haniyeh's visit to Egypt is a rare personal intervention in diplomatic efforts, something he has only done previously when progress seemed likely. His last visit to Egypt was in early November before the announcement of the only truce in the Gaza war so far, which lasted a week and culminated in Hamas releasing around 110 hostages. Israel has not publicly commented on the talks in Egypt but has ruled out a permanent ceasefire, insisting it would only agree to a limited humanitarian truce until Hamas is defeated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his position that the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated, all hostages are released, and Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. He stated in a press release yesterday, "Anyone who thinks we will stop is out of touch with reality... All Hamas terrorists, from the first to the last, are living men condemned to death."
Meanwhile, the United States, Israel's closest ally, has intensified its calls in the past week to narrow the scope of the comprehensive war to a focused campaign against Hamas leaders and to end what Biden called "indiscriminate bombing" causing heavy civilian casualties.
In a dangerous extension of the war, Houthi forces in Yemen launched missiles and drones at commercial ships in the Red Sea to affirm their support for the Palestinians against Israel, and the United States established a multinational force this week to deter such attacks. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi warned yesterday that his fighters would strike U.S. warships if Washington targeted them.
Diplomats have indicated that the United Nations Security Council is set to vote today on a proposal to increase aid to the Gaza Strip after a delay at the request of the United States. Aid to Gaza has gradually increased in recent days following the opening of a second crossing into the territory. Cyprus and Israel announced yesterday that they are discussing the opening of a maritime corridor to deliver more aid to the region, but a final agreement has not yet been reached.
