Egyptian officials visit Israel to break deadlock in ceasefire and hostage discussions

An Egyptian delegation is currently in Israel to help move forward stalled talks about freeing hostages and establishing a ceasefire in Gaza, according to Egyptian and Israeli officials speaking to CNN on Friday.

In addition to this, the delegation will also be holding talks with Israeli officials about security coordination regarding a possible Israeli operation in Rafah, as mentioned by another Israeli official. Egypt is particularly worried about the impact of a large-scale Israeli operation in Rafah, which is near its border and where approximately one million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent months.

Despite extensive discussions facilitated by Qatar and Egypt, Hamas and Israel have not been able to come to a resolution on their key issues.

However, a senior official from the US government mentioned on Thursday that there may be a potential path to reach a compromise.

A new framework has been proposed during discussions in Qatar and Egypt, which involves a six-week ceasefire and the release of some hostages by Hamas. In return, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails would be freed.

Hamas is pushing for the "unrestricted" return of displaced Palestinians from the south of Gaza to the north as one of their key demands.

The US official verified that the draft agreement contains that provision, with additional measures in place to guarantee the safety of returnees.

"This includes providing shelter, assistance, and deploying a UN mission to ensure readiness," explained the official.

Demand for full Israeli withdrawal

During an interview with Al Jazeera, senior Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya emphasized the importance of complete Israeli withdrawal as a key demand. He also reiterated other conditions that Israel had previously rejected as essential for any agreement.

He mentioned that Hamas requires a permanent ceasefire and a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza before agreeing to any deal.

He also stated that releasing the hostages for a subpar exchange could result in another assault or war on their people, despite the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza.

Israel is determined to keep up its operation in Gaza until Hamas is no longer a threat. Despite ongoing discussions, the number of casualties in Gaza keeps increasing, and families in Israel with loved ones held hostage are becoming more anxious to have them back. Qatar, a crucial mediator in the negotiations, has recently expressed doubts about Israel and Hamas's commitment to reaching a resolution.

A Palestinian woman inspects a house that was destroyed by an Israeli bombing in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.

A Palestinian woman inspects a house that was destroyed by an Israeli bombing in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, on Wednesday.

Another issue causing a delay in the negotiations is the disagreement over the number of Israeli hostages to be released in the initial phase of the agreement. Initially, both sides had agreed on releasing 40 hostages, specifically women, sick, and elderly men. However, Hamas has now stated that they do not have enough hostages meeting these criteria for release, as reported by an Israeli official and a source familiar with the talks.

In a rare joint statement on Thursday, leaders from 18 countries, including the United States, called on Hamas to agree to a deal and release the hostages. This action would result in an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. This ceasefire would allow for more essential humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and ultimately bring an end to the hostilities.

According to a senior US administration official, there is often a disconnect between the statements made by Hamas leaders outside of Gaza and the actual leadership inside Gaza. The official noted that the Hamas leadership in Gaza appears to be focused on holding hostages underground rather than seeking a resolution.

A senior Hamas official described the statement as a display of "ironic international politics" and urged the signatory countries to push Israel to agree to a deal.

GAZA CITY, GAZA - JULY 20: Palestinian Hamas militants are seen during a military show in the Bani Suheila district on July 20, 2017 in Gaza City, Gaza. For the past ten years Gaza residents have lived with constant power shortages, in recent years these cuts have worsened, with supply of regular power limited to four hours a day. On June 11, 2017 Israel announced a new round of cuts at the request of the Palestinian authorities and the decision was seen as an attempt by President Mahmoud Abbas to pressure Gaza's Hamas leadership. Prior to the new cuts Gaza received 150 megawatts per day, far below it's requirements of 450 megawatts. In April, Gaza's sole power station which supplied 60 megawatts shut down, after running out of fuel, the three lines from Egypt, which provided 27 megawatts are rarely operational, leaving Gaza reliant on the 125 megawatts supplied by Israel's power plant. The new cuts now restrict electricity to three hours a day severely effecting hospital patients with chronic conditions and babies on life support. During blackout hours residents use private generators, solar panels and battery operated light sources to live. June 2017 also marked ten years since Israel began a land, sea and air blockade over Gaza. Under the blockade, movement of people and goods is restricted and exports and imports of raw materials have been banned. The restrictions have virtually cut off access for Gaza's two million residents to the outside world and unemployment rates have skyrocketed forcing many people into poverty and leaving approximately 80% of the population dependent on humanitarian aid. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

In Gaza City, Palestinian Hamas militants were showcased during a military event in the Bani Suheila district on July 20, 2017. Over the past decade, residents of Gaza have been facing consistent power shortages. In recent years, these shortages have become more severe, with electricity only available for four hours each day. Israel announced new cuts on June 11, 2017, at the request of Palestinian authorities. This decision was believed to be a move by President Mahmoud Abbas to put pressure on Gaza's Hamas leadership. Gaza's power supply was previously 150 megawatts per day, significantly lower than the required 450 megawatts. In April, Gaza's main power station, providing 60 megawatts, shut down due to a lack of fuel. The three lines from Egypt, offering 27 megawatts, are seldom operational, leaving Gaza dependent on the 125 megawatts provided by Israel. The recent cuts have reduced electricity to only three hours a day, greatly impacting hospital patients with chronic conditions and infants on life support. Residents rely on private generators, solar panels, and battery-powered lights during blackout hours.

June 2017 marked a decade since Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza by land, sea, and air. Under this blockade, the movement of people and goods is restricted, and the import and export of raw materials are banned. These restrictions have isolated Gaza's two million inhabitants from the outside world, leading to soaring unemployment rates and pushing many into poverty. Approximately 80% of the population now depends on humanitarian aid for survival.

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"Their sons and daughters are just as valuable as our own sons and daughters," stated Basem Naim, the official.

Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, Israeli demonstrators stood in solidarity with the families of the hostages in a protest. This came a day after Hamas shared a video of the Israeli-American hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken during the attacks on Israel by Hamas on October 7.

Goldberg-Polin's parents expressed their hope that the negotiators would be reminded of the real people whose lives are at stake when they see and hear their son.

In Gaza, aid has been slowly coming in, but it is far from sufficient to help the struggling Palestinians. Frustration persists over the slow response to the crisis, which was triggered by Israel's offensive and blockade on the strip.

"People require food assistance on a daily basis, and although we can receive trucks every day, it is not sufficient," mentioned Matthew Hollingworth from the World Food Programme. CNN’s Zeena Saifi also contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The negotiations between Hamas and Israel, facilitated by Egypt and Qatar, continue to face challenges. While a potential compromise involving a ceasefire and hostage release has emerged, key demands from both sides, including Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians, remain contentious. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with severe electricity shortages and limited aid, further complicates the situation.

Despite international pressure, the release of Israeli hostages and the establishment of a lasting ceasefire hinge on the willingness of both Hamas and Israel to compromise. The plight of hostages and the suffering of civilians in Gaza underscore the urgency of finding a resolution that addresses the concerns of all parties and brings an end to the hostilities. The international community must continue to play a constructive role in facilitating negotiations and providing support to the affected population.