Hamas delegation departs Cairo after Gaza ceasefire talks - War on Gaza
A senior Hamas delegation left Cairo on Saturday following discussions with Egyptian officials aimed at restoring the ceasefire and ending the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, the group said in a statement on Sunday.
The delegation, led by Hamas leadership council chairman Mohamed Darwish and council members Khaled Meshaal and Khalil al-Hayya, among others, reviewed strategies to achieve a comprehensive deal that would include a ceasefire, prisoner exchange, humanitarian relief, and reconstruction efforts.
The talks also addressed the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by Israel's two-month deadly blockade that has prevented the entry of essential food, medical, and humanitarian aid. Hamas stressed the urgency of securing assistance to meet Gaza's dire needs, , the statement noted.
On 18 March, Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
The original ceasefire agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, was structured in three phases. The first phase, which began on 19 January, involved a temporary halt in hostilities to allow for humanitarian aid and prisoner exchanges.
This was followed by the second phase, which focused on securing a more permanent ceasefire, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the release of the remaining captives. The third and final phase addressed long-term reconstruction and political settlement issues.
However, Israel stalled negotiations for the second phase well beyond the expiration date of the first one, demanding the immediate release of all captives, living and dead, which was outside the scope of the agreed-upon phased release.
When Hamas rejected this demand, Israel unilaterally ended the ceasefire on 18 March and resumed its war on Gaza.
On Saturday, Hamas expressed its willingness to agree to a deal that would see the release of all captives and establish a five-year truce.
However, the group made clear that any ceasefire deal must include Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza, an immediate surge in humanitarian aid, and an end to the ongoing war.
The United Nations has warned that food stocks in the besieged territory are running dangerously low.
An Israeli official told CNN that Israel has not yet received a new offer from the mediators.
'Israel only responds to offers passed on by the mediators,' the source said.
Earlier this week, the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, visited Doha, for further ceasefire talks.
However, there has been no indication of a significant breakthrough in the negotiations.
In a related development, US President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to 'be good to Gaza,' noting that the humanitarian crisis there was worsening.
'There's a very big need for food and medicine, and we're taking care of it,' Trump said.
He added that Netanyahu had expressed support for efforts to increase aid into Gaza.
Since the resumption of the genocide in March, Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, bringing the total death toll to at least 51,495 since the war began in October 2023.
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