Fourth day of Gaza truce talks spurred by US push

Diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza before the beginning of Ramadan are intensifying, with U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein playing a pivotal role in the negotiations. After his visit to Lebanon, Hochstein headed to Israel via Cyprus, leaving behind a key aide in Beirut to maintain dialogue with Lebanese leaders and indirectly with Hezbollah, as reported by Al-Akhbar newspaper.

Hochstein’s mission, supported by a call from U.S. President Joe Biden, focuses on halting the conflict sparked by a Hamas attack on October 7, before the Muslim fasting month commences. Amid the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a significant risk of famine, the U.S. and Jordan, in collaboration with Egypt and France, have conducted another round of food aid airdrops into the territory housing 2.4 million people.

In Cairo, U.S. and Hamas envoys, along with Qatari and Egyptian mediators, are discussing a six-week truce and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, along with increasing aid flow to Gaza. Despite the ongoing discussions, Israel’s participation has been hesitant, reportedly due to Hamas’s failure to provide a comprehensive list of living hostages.

The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, prompting international concern and criticism, particularly from the U.S., as conditions worsen. Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, further emphasized by a WHO report on children dying of starvation in northern Gaza hospitals.

The conflict has had far-reaching effects, not only within Israel and Gaza but also sparking violence across the region, including between Israeli forces and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Additionally, the U.S. military reported shooting down drones and a missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen towards a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea, highlighting the broader regional impact of the Gaza conflict.