Egypt Daily News – Egyptian security sources said on Wednesday that indirect negotiations between the Palestinian Hamas movement and Israel for an agreement in Gaza that would allow the exchange of hostages for prisoners “are still continuing despite the presence of major obstacles and the lack of real progress.”
The sources familiar with the negotiations, who requested anonymity, said that Cairo is “currently awaiting Hamas’ response” to Israel’s proposals regarding the stages and conditions of the truce agreement.
The sources added, “The matter now depends on Hamas’ response and it is not certain that it will be positive. It is difficult to believe that they will accept a limited agreement in exchange for a ceasefire without ending the war,” expressing their regret that “the hoped-for progress has not occurred and that it will not be a matter of a few days” before an understanding is reached.
The sources did not reveal further details about the progress of communications or the points of disagreement, only indicating that the talks “will continue in Qatar,” a country that is making mediation efforts with Egypt and the United States with the aim of reaching an agreement on a ceasefire in the Palestinian Strip.
The mediators, both Hamas and Israel, have felt optimistic in recent weeks about an imminent agreement, especially after pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump aimed at ending the war, which has entered its 14th month and resulted in the death of at least 45,000 people.
The Hamas movement sets several conditions, most notably that the ceasefire agreement includes ending the war and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel demands that Hamas not participate in the next government in the Strip after the end of the war.
