Report: Israel-Hamas Talks to Resume in Cairo on Sunday

By Yoni Weiss

Sources from Egypt have informed Reuters that negotiations regarding the Gaza ceasefire and a hostage deal are set to resume on Sunday. The ongoing efforts aim to finalize the agreement before the start of Ramadan, next Monday, March 10.

Despite Israel characterizing the deadly Gaza aid incident as a stampede, the talks have not slowed down. Instead, negotiators are reportedly working with urgency to preserve progress in the discussions.

The parties involved are said to have reached agreements on the duration of a Gaza ceasefire, as well as releases of hostages and prisoners. However, the completion of the deal hinges on reaching consensus on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and the return of its residents.

While a Palestinian official familiar with the mediation efforts did not immediately confirm the Cairo talks to Reuters, they acknowledged that significant gaps still exist when it comes to ending the war and pulling Israeli forces out of Gaza.

The United States has consistently emphasized its goal of securing the deal before the onset of Ramadan. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki expressed hope that a ceasefire agreement would be achieved in time for the Ramadan, stating, “We hope that we will be able to achieve a ceasefire before Ramadan; we hope to be able to achieve one today, yesterday, but we have failed.”