The US has stated that “very serious” talks on a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of more Israeli hostages are taking place. Still, prospects for a deal remain uncertain, with Hamas insisting that it will not discuss anything less than an all-out end to Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian enclave.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited Egypt on Wednesday for the first time in more than a month for discussions with Egyptian officials who are seeking to mediate another truce.
A source briefed on the negotiations said envoys were intensively discussing which of the hostages still held by Palestinian Islamist militants in Gaza could be freed in a new truce and which Palestinian prisoners Israel might release in return.
Islamic Jihad, a smaller Palestinian militant group that is also holding hostages in Gaza, said its leader would visit Egypt in coming days as well to discuss a possible end to the conflict.
“These are very serious discussions and negotiations, and we hope that they lead somewhere,” White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One, the U.S. presidential aircraft, on Wednesday.
But Taher Al-Nono, Haniyeh’s media adviser, said that Hamas was not willing to discuss releasing more Israeli hostages until Israel ended its military campaign in Gaza and the volume of humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians increased.
“The issue of prisoners can be negotiated after these two matters are achieved. We cannot talk about negotiations while Israel continues its aggression. Discussing any proposal related to prisoners must occur after the cessation of aggression,” Nono said in Cairo.
Hamas rejects any further temporary pause in Israel’s military campaign and says it will discuss only a permanent ceasefire. “We have talked with our brothers in Egypt, outlining our stance on this aggression and the urgent need to stop it as a top priority,” Nono said.
