“Cairo Hosts Talks Between Hamas and Israel in Bid for Gaza Ceasefire”

CAIRO, May 7 (Xinhua) — Efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza have taken a significant step forward as delegations from Hamas, Israel, Qatar, and the United States convene in Cairo. The discussions aim to broker a “comprehensive truce” in the Gaza Strip, as reported by the state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV channel.

The Israeli delegation, arriving in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon, comprises members from the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and Shin Bet security agency, an Egyptian source, who preferred anonymity, disclosed to Xinhua.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video statement, emphasized the need to maintain firm conditions for the release of hostages and ensure Israel’s security. However, he expressed reservations about the ceasefire proposal brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators and endorsed by Hamas on Monday.

Egypt is actively mediating to achieve a comprehensive truce, as affirmed by an unnamed high-ranking source cited by Al-Qahera News. The source highlighted Egypt’s efforts to engage with various stakeholders to contain the crisis.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military launched an operation in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, where over a million internally displaced Palestinians have sought refuge since Israel’s offensive commenced on October 7 last year. Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported at least 20 casualties in Israel’s attacks on Rafah since Tuesday morning.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both Israel and Hamas to halt the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the critical juncture for Palestinians, Israelis, and the broader region. Guterres stressed the necessity of an agreement between Israel and Hamas to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and ensure the safety of hostages and their families.

Previous mediation efforts in late November 2023, facilitated by Cairo, Doha, and Washington, led to a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas. The agreement included a prisoner exchange and increased humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza.