By Uzair Adam Imam
Negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip are scheduled to recommence in Cairo on Sunday, as reported by Egyptian outlet Al-Qahera.
This development follows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent approval for renewed talks.
An anchor for Al-Qahera News, closely associated with Egypt’s intelligence services, confirmed the resumption of negotiations, citing an Egyptian security source.
Previous rounds of talks, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, have yet to yield a viable agreement.
Despite hopes to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan, progress has been slow, with the Muslim holy month now more than halfway through.
Netanyahu’s endorsement of the new negotiations, set to take place in both Doha and Cairo, was announced on Friday.
While details regarding the involvement of Mossad chief David Barnea remain undisclosed, Netanyahu’s office confirmed discussions with Barnea regarding the talks.
Simultaneously, protests erupted in Israel’s largest city, with demonstrators blocking a major road in demand for the release of hostages held in Gaza and criticising the government’s handling of the conflict.
Approximately 130 hostages, out of an initial 250 seized during the October 7 attacks that triggered the conflict, are believed to remain in Gaza.
Central to the ceasefire negotiations is the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, along with counterparts from Egypt and Jordan, noted the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages during meetings in Cairo.
Furthermore, France intends to propose a draft resolution at the UN Security Council outlining a “political” settlement for the conflict.
While recent international efforts, including a Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire and a UN court order for humanitarian assistance, aim to alleviate the situation, the conflict persists.
Hamas’s initial attacks on October 7 resulted in significant casualties in Israel, while Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has claimed thousands of lives, predominantly among civilians, according to official figures.