Hamas’s top leader traveled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks on the war in Gaza, part of a wave of diplomacy aimed at securing another ceasefire and a hostage exchange at a time when the militant group is putting up stiff resistance. to Israel’s offensive.
Ismail Haniyeh’s visit came a day after Hamas fired rockets that set off air raid sirens in central Israel, a show of force during a 10-week war that devastated much of northern Gaza, killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians and expelled some 1.9 million, almost 85% of the population, from their homes.
Israel has called on the rest of the world to blacklist Hamas as a terrorist organization, saying it must be eradicated following the Oct. 7 attacks in southern Israel that sparked the war.
But the sides have recently relaunched indirect talks, brokered by Egypt and Qatar, aimed at instituting another ceasefire and releasing more hostages captured in that attack in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Mobile phone and internet service went down again in Gaza on Wednesday, an outage that could complicate efforts to communicate with Hamas leaders inside the territory who went into hiding after October 7.
Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of Hamas, arrived in Cairo to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza. Iranian Foreign Ministry/AFP via Getty Images
Large gap remains in hostage talks
Despite a burst of activity by high-level officials in recent days, the two sides appeared far from reaching an agreement.
Hamas has said it will not release any more hostages until the war ends and is expected to insist on the release of large numbers of Palestinian prisoners, including high-level militants, for its remaining captives, demands that Israel has so far rejected.
Egypt, along with Qatar, helped mediate a week-long ceasefire in November in which Hamas freed more than 100 hostages in exchange for Israel’s release of 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Ismail Haniyeh’s visit comes a day after Hamas fired rockets that set off air raid sirens in central Israel. Via REUTERS
Hamas and other militants still hold about 129 captive.
Hamas said in a statement that Haniyeh would discuss the war with Egyptian officials, without providing further details. Egypt, which borders Gaza, is deeply concerned about a possible influx of Palestinian refugees, fearing that Israel will not allow them to return.
Haniyeh is believed to be based in Qatar, although Hamas rarely makes the whereabouts of its leaders public for security reasons.
Smoke rises in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, seen from southern Israel, December 20, 2023. REUTERS
ISRAEL SAYS ‘FINAL CLEANUP’ IS UNDERWAY IN THE NORTH
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday that Israeli forces were entering the Hamas tunnel network in northern Gaza as part of a “final cleanup” of militants from the region.
The densely urban north – including Gaza City, the territory’s largest – has seen fierce fighting, and Palestinian health officials reported that dozens of people have been killed in shelling in recent days.
Gallant said that in southern Gaza operations will last “months,” including the military assault on Khan Younis, the enclave’s second largest city. “We will not stop until we achieve our goals,” he said.
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The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said on Tuesday that the death toll since the start of the war had risen to more than 19,600. It does not distinguish between deaths of civilians and combatants.
At least 46 people were killed and more than 100 wounded early Wednesday as Israel continued shelling the urban Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City, according to Munir al-Bursh, a senior Health Ministry official.
Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack.
Israel’s military says 134 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive in Gaza.
Israel says it has killed about 7,000 militants, without providing evidence, and blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying it uses them as human shields when fighting in residential areas.
The densely urban north – including Gaza City, the territory’s largest – has seen fierce fighting, and Palestinian health officials reported that dozens of people have been killed in shelling in recent days. ZUMAPRESS.com Palestinians gather with pots to receive food at a donation point provided by a charity organization in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, December 19, 2023. ZUMAPRESS.com
UN MEMBERS STILL PRESSURE US FOR AID RESOLUTION
Members of the UN Security Council are negotiating an Arab-sponsored resolution to somehow stop the fighting and allow increased deliveries of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The vote on the resolution, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed again until Wednesday as talks continued in hopes of getting the United States to abstain or vote “yes” on the resolution after it vetoed an earlier call for a halt. the fire.
France, the United Kingdom and Germany – some of Israel’s closest allies – joined global calls for a ceasefire over the weekend. In Israel, protesters have called for negotiations with Hamas to facilitate the release of dozens of hostages still held by the group.
Gallant said that in southern Gaza operations will last “months,” including the military assault on Khan Younis, the enclave’s second largest city. “We will not stop until we achieve our goals,” he said. ZUMAPRESS.com
Israel says it will continue fighting until it has removed Hamas from power, dismantled its armed wing and returned all hostages.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has called on Israel to take greater steps to save civilians but has continued to provide diplomatic and military support to the offensive.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn