Egypt Daily News – A delegation from Hamas arrived in Cairo to hold talks about reaching an agreement with Israel, which resumed the war in the Gaza Strip.
Hussam Badran, a member of the political bureau of Hamas confirmed the “necessity of reaching a ceasefire” in Gaza, pointing out that communication with mediators continues without presenting any new proposals in this regard.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that they are working on reaching a new “agreement” regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
A member of the political bureau of Hamas, speaking to Agence France-Presse, pointed out that “this war cannot continue indefinitely, and it is essential to reach a ceasefire,” adding that “communication with mediators is still ongoing.”
Badran stated that Hamas and other Palestinian armed factions facing Israel “agreed to the proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, which was rejected by the occupation,” emphasizing Hamas’s openness to “any ideas that could lead to a ceasefire.”
On April 2, Israel presented a paper to the mediators for a ceasefire in Gaza, but Hamas decided not to engage with it.
Netanyahu stated from the White House, “We are currently working on another agreement that we hope will succeed, and we are committed to freeing all hostages.”
The ceasefire agreement in Gaza collapsed two months after it came into effect, during which the warring parties managed to exchange hostages and prisoners. However, the Israeli military resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after failing to reach a deal.
Since then, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 1,482 people have been killed and 3,688 others injured since the war resumed, according to the latest tally released on Wednesday.
Netanyahu and his government insist that escalating military pressure is the only way to force Hamas to release the hostages, both the living and the dead, who are still being held.
Indonesia is ready to provide temporary shelter for Palestinians
Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his readiness to provide temporary shelter for Palestinians affected by the war in Gaza.
According to the United Nations, nearly 400,000 people from Gaza have been displaced in the weeks following Israel’s resumption of military operations in the region last month.
Before starting his Middle East tour, which includes the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan, Widodo stated, “We are ready to receive the injured victims.”
He added, “We are prepared to send planes to transport them. We estimate that the first batch will include up to a thousand people,” stressing that the priority would be for injured Palestinians, as well as “children suffering from trauma and orphans.”
He mentioned that he had instructed his foreign minister to speak with Palestinian officials and “parties in the region” about the evacuation process.
Widodo confirmed that the victims would stay in Indonesia only until they recover, ensuring their safe return.
These remarks came two months after the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly rejected any attempt to forcibly relocate Palestinians, following U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to permanently transfer them out of Gaza.
On another front, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty in Abu Dhabi to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, along with other regional and international issues, according to the UAE’s official news agency.
The agency reported that the two sides addressed “the importance of enhancing efforts to resume the ceasefire agreement, reach a ceasefire, and release hostages, while reviewing ways to improve the response to the escalating humanitarian situation in Gaza and ensuring the urgent and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to its residents without obstacles.”
Additionally, the UAE official discussed the current developments in the Middle East and ways to strengthen regional stability in a separate meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, focusing on the urgent priority to resume the ceasefire agreement, reach a ceasefire, release hostages, and enhance the response to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as providing the needs of civilians in the region.
