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Cairo hosting trilateral talks on Gaza humanitarian aid, ceasefire - Foreign Affairs

Cairo hosting trilateral talks on Gaza humanitarian aid, ceasefire - Foreign Affairs

Al-Ahram Weekly3 days ago
Cairo is hosting delegations from Egypt, Qatar, and Israel for discussions on humanitarian aid for Gaza and efforts to secure a ceasefire, the Egyptian news channel Al-Qahera News reported on Tuesday.
The tripartite talks are addressing the delivery of aid, the evacuation of patients, and the return of stranded individuals.
The discussions are part of Egypt's ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Informed sources told the channel that the meetings have witnessed notable progress, with consensus reached on several humanitarian-related provisions within the proposed ceasefire agreement.
The talks are scheduled to continue over two days.
These consultations reflect Egypt's commitment to overcoming the obstacles hindering a comprehensive ceasefire and its determination to ensure the entry of sufficient and appropriate humanitarian assistance to residents of the strip, the sources added.
On Monday, Al-Qahera News reported that Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, held talks on a Gaza ceasefire with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, alongside Palestinian and Israeli delegations.
Over the past week, indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in the Qatari capital.
Despite international momentum, the two sides remain at odds over key terms.
A Palestinian source told AFP that Israel's insistence on maintaining a military presence in Gaza has stalled a proposed 60-day pause in fighting.
On the other hand, an Israeli official, speaking to AFP, accused Hamas of deliberately blocking a deal, as the group rejected new Israeli demands to retain forces in over 40 percent of Gaza.
Hamas accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the main obstacle.
Since October 2023, Israel's war on Gaza has killed 57,680 Palestinians — the majority women and children — and injured 137,409 others, according to the strip's health ministry.
Egypt, alongside Qatar and the United States, has been a key mediator in efforts to end the war, now entering its 21st month.
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