The most recent round of talks to stop the conflict in Gaza finished in Cairo after “detailed and serious discussions,” the Hamas rebel group announced on Sunday, repeating important requests that Israel once again refused. Despite initial signs of progress, the situation appeared to get worse as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to resist international pressure to stop the war.
Yoav Gallant, the Defense Minister, stated that Hamas was not sincere about reaching an agreement and warned of “a significant operation in the very near future in Rafah and other areas throughout Gaza ” after Hamas attacked Israel’s main crossing point for delivering essential humanitarian aid, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers.
However, Israeli media reported that William Burns, the CIA chief and a main mediator in the negotiations, would have a meeting with Netanyahu on Monday. An official who is familiar with the situation mentioned that Burns will travel to Israel following a meeting with the prime minister of Qatar, which has been involved with Egypt as a mediator dealing with Hamas. The source spoke anonymously to talk about the private negotiations.
Israel did not dispatch a group for the most recent discussions. Egyptian state media reported that the Hamas group went for discussions in Qatar, where the group has an office, and will come back to Cairo for more negotiations on Tuesday.
Another challenge to the discussions emerged as Israel instructed the local branches of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to shut down, accusing it of broadcasting anti-Israel encouragement. The ban did not seem to impact the channel’s activities in Gaza or the West Bank.
Under pressure from hard-liners in his government, Netanyahu continued to lower expectations for an agreement to stop the conflict, describing the key demands from Hamas as “extreme” — including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and an end to the war. He stated that meeting these demands would be the same as surrender after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that initiated the conflict.
Ismail Haniyeh, a leader of Hamas, earlier mentioned in a statement that the militant group was committed and positive about the negotiations and that putting an end to Israeli aggression in Gaza is the main priority.
However, Israel’s government once again pledged to continue with a military operation in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza on the border with Egypt, where more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are presently seeking refuge from Israeli attacks. Rafah is a crucial entry point for aid.
Kerem Shalom, which is now closed, is another entry point. The Israeli military reported that 10 projectiles were fired at the crossing in southern Israel and stated that its fighter jets later attacked the source. Hamas claimed it targeted Israeli soldiers in the area. Israel’s Channel 12 TV channel reported that 10 people were injured, three of them seriously. It was unclear for how long the crossing would remain closed.
The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, requested an independent investigation and “accountability for the obvious disregard of humanitarian workers.” He also mentioned that Israel denied him entry to Gaza for the second time this week.
The closure of Kerem Shalom occurred shortly after the head of the U.N. World Food Program declared a “full-blown famine” in the devastated northern part of Gaza, one of the most prominent warnings so far about the impact of restrictions on aid entering the area. However, these comments were not an official declaration of famine.
In extended comments as the complete NBC interview was made public, WFP leader Cindy McCain mentioned that famine was spreading further in Gaza and that Israel's attempts to permit more aid were insufficient. She stated, “At the moment, there is a large group at the border, with just enough trucks and food for 1.1 million people for about three months. We need to bring that in.”
Gaza's extensive humanitarian needs create pressure for a peace agreement. The plan proposed by Egyptian negotiators to Hamas outlines a three-step process that includes an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7, along with an Israeli withdrawal. The first stage would last for 40 days. Hamas would initiate by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Netanyahu asserted that Israel has demonstrated willingness to make concessions but stated it “will continue fighting until all of its objectives are achieved.” This includes the declared goal of defeating Hamas. Israel insists it must target Rafah to attack remaining fighters there despite warnings from the U.S. and others about the danger to civilians.
A strike by Israel on a house in an urban refugee camp near Rafah resulted in the deaths of four children, including a baby, and two adults, all from the same family, according to Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital.
Another Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least five people, according to Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. Israel’s military stated that it targeted a Hamas command center in central Gaza. It didn’t mention casualties.
During a passionate speech for Israel’s annual Holocaust memorial day, Netanyahu added: “I say to the leaders of the world, no amount of pressure, no decision by any international forum will stop Israel from defending itself.”
The Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7 resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the capture of 250 others. Israel claims that militants still hold approximately 100 hostages and the remains of over 30 others. Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from some hostages’ families to negotiate an end to the war and secure the release of the hostages.
Israeli’s air and ground offensive has resulted in the deaths of over 34,500 people, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and combatants but state that women and children constitute a majority of those killed.
Israel holds Hamas responsible for civilian casualties, alleging that it operates within residential and public areas. The Israeli military claims to have killed 13,000 militants, but has not provided evidence to support this assertion.
