Cairo Talks Resume: Hostages and Ceasefire in Focus

Negotiators have gathered in Cairo for another attempt to secure a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages, marking the latest in a series of efforts to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Rising tensions between Israel and Iran have added urgency to the need to end the 10-month conflict. Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel following the recent killings of key figures in Iran-backed militant groups, including the assassination of Hamas’ political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.

Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, announced that it had begun its retaliation for the killing of one of its top commanders, but this has not derailed the ongoing talks.

Here’s what we know:

**Current Situation:** Hamas representatives arrived in Cairo on Saturday evening, where negotiations involving Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar are taking place. Hamas will be updated by mediators on the progress of the discussions, according to a statement by Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau. Israeli negotiators are also present.

**What’s Being Discussed?** The negotiations are centered around a three-phase peace plan first proposed by U.S. President Joe Biden in May. The plan calls for the release of hostages in exchange for a “full and complete ceasefire.” The White House is pushing hard to finalize the deal and has stated that Israel has accepted it, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that key issues are still unresolved.

**Major Sticking Points:** Significant differences remain between the two sides. Israel has emphasized that after an initial six-week phase, any pause in fighting could be temporary and that they are not ready to agree to a permanent ceasefire. Hamas, on the other hand, is dissatisfied with the current proposal because it does not include a permanent ceasefire and introduces new conditions for prisoner exchanges. Another contentious issue is the future control of the Philadelphi corridor in southern Gaza, with Israel insisting on maintaining control of the border zone, while Hamas demands an Israeli withdrawal.

**Likelihood of a Deal:** The U.S. remains hopeful about the latest round of negotiations, with President Biden recently stating, “we are closer than we’ve ever been.” However, after months of talks, substantial differences still need to be bridged. The assassination of Haniyeh, a key figure in Hamas’ negotiations, has further complicated the situation. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces pressure from the families of hostages to secure a deal, as well as from his cabinet to continue efforts to defeat Hamas.