Gaza (Transatlantic Today) – The Hamas delegation involved in the negotiations on a possible ceasefire in the Gaza Strip left Egypt on Tuesday, April 30, after being presented with a new ceasefire offer. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that his military could launch an attack on Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire agreement is reached.
Following talks in Egypt mediated by countries such as Qatar and the United States, Hamas is discussing the latest ceasefire proposal with Israel. The proposal provides for a 40-day cessation of hostilities and includes conditions such as the release of 33 endangered hostages in exchange for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Netanyahu’s government is awaiting Hamas’ response before deciding whether to send its negotiating team back to Cairo, according to sources close to the prime minister. There are also indications that David Barnea, the head of the Israeli secret service Mossad, could travel to Cairo depending on the negotiation’s development.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry expressed optimism about the potential of the proposal and emphasized that both Hamas and Israel would have to make final statements. According to reports by the Arab news channel Al Jazeera and the Israeli newspaper The Times of Israel, Hamas is expected to submit its response by Wednesday, May 1.
International interference
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on both parties to reach a ceasefire agreement, expressing international concern over the escalating conflict. Meanwhile, the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army has led to further casualties: The local health ministry reported 47 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 35,535.
Challenges in reaching an agreement
Negotiations have so far encountered obstacles as Hamas, which is seeking a comprehensive end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli troops has rejected previous offers. In contrast, the Netanyahu government insists on a temporary ceasefire while maintaining its objective of neutralizing Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007.
Netanyahu’s warning on possible raid
According to France24, Netanyahu has stressed that the Israeli Army may launch a ground operation into Rafah, irrespective of a truce agreement. He asserted the pursuit of all military objectives before considering halting the conflict. Rafah, located near the Egyptian border, has been subject to airstrikes, but ground troops have not yet entered the area.
International concerns
The international community, including the United States and France, has warned against a ground operation in Rafah due to potential humanitarian consequences. However, Israel stresses the necessity of such action to eradicate Hamas presence in the region.
