Events haggling over a potential cease-fire in Gaza provided combined alerts on Wednesday, with Hamas’s political chief saying that the group was able to preserve preventing Israel whereas the president of Egypt stated {that a} truce could possibly be reached “within the subsequent few days.”
The Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, stated in a televised speech that the group was open to the mediated talks with Israel, however that “any flexibility we present within the negotiation course of is a dedication to defending the blood of our individuals, matched by a readiness to defend them.”
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, which is brokering the talks together with Qatar and america, provided a rosier view, saying that, “God keen, within the subsequent few days, we’ll attain a cease-fire settlement” to convey “actual reduction” to the individuals of Gaza. The prediction matched that of President Biden, who stated {that a} deal might come as quickly as subsequent week.
In public, nevertheless, Hamas and Israel are sticking with their longstanding positions and never signaling any breakthrough. The 2 sides haven’t met nose to nose, as an alternative negotiating via mediators in Doha, Cairo and Paris. Hamas leaders proceed to demand that Israel conform to a everlasting cease-fire and withdraw all its troops from Gaza, whereas Israel has insisted that it’ll proceed preventing till Hamas is eradicated, suggesting it’s not ready to conform to a long-term truce.
In a information convention on Wednesday evening, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s protection minister, stated he was reluctant to touch upon Mr. Biden’s remarks {that a} deal is imminent. “I actually hope he’s proper,” Mr. Gallant stated.
Qatar’s international ministry stated this week that talks had been persevering with and it was too early to invest a few decision. Mr. Haniyeh didn’t touch upon particular phrases of a cease-fire deal that could possibly be underneath dialogue, and it was not clear whether or not his remarks mirrored actual reservations or had been a negotiating tactic.
The beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, round March 10, has emerged as a goal for mediators to hammer out a truce within the battle, which began with an Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel that authorities there say killed a minimum of 1,200 individuals.
Mr. Haniyeh appeared to boost the stakes for reaching a deal within the coming days, calling on Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution to defy Israeli restrictions and march to the Aqsa mosque to hope at first of Ramadan. That creates the prospect of clashes if Palestinians try and strategy the mosque, one of many holiest websites in Islam and a longtime flashpoint in relations with Israel.
Israel has restricted entry to the Aqsa mosque for West Financial institution Palestinians, and it has severely restricted motion throughout the West Financial institution for the reason that begin of the battle in Gaza. Israeli officers are debating whether or not to position additional restrictions on entry to the mosque for some members of the nation’s Arab minority, a transfer that might spark additional unrest.
With the battle’s demise toll in Gaza nearing 30,000, in line with well being officers within the territory, strain is constructing on Israel and the Biden administration, its chief ally, to safe a cease-fire. Israel has provided a minimum of one vital concession, telling Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators in Paris final week that it was able to launch 15 Palestinians jailed on severe terrorism costs in trade for 5 feminine Israeli troopers being held in Gaza, in line with officers.
However a Hamas spokesman, Basem Naim, instructed The New York Occasions on Tuesday that the group had but to formally obtain “any new proposals” for the reason that Paris assembly. Mr. Haniyeh met on Monday with the emir of Qatar and accused Israel of dragging its ft within the talks, in line with a Hamas assertion.
Israeli officers have stated the purpose is to achieve a deal earlier than the beginning of Ramadan. An Israeli delegation — together with professionals from Mossad, Israel’s intelligence company, and its navy — traveled to Qatar this week for extra discussions, together with over such particulars because the identities of the hostages and prisoners to be exchanged, in line with an Israeli official.
An Israeli official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to talk to the press, stated the Israeli group was nonetheless in Doha on and would return to Israel on Thursday. The official stated it was nonetheless not clear whether or not the talks would proceed in Egypt subsequent week.
Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Nada Rashwan and Adam Sella contributed reporting.
