A Hamas delegation will travel to Cairo tomorrow to discuss developments on the ceasefire agreement. The delegation will be led by Khalil al-Hayya, it was announced in a statement reiterating that Hamas will not deviate from its demandswhich include a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and the return of Palestinians forced to flee to their homes.
The Israeli government, which claims that the objective of the military campaign it has been waging for six months in Gaza is the destruction of Hamas, rejects these conditions. Negotiations have thus been at a standstill for weeks, after the mediators' attempt to obtain an agreement for a ceasefire and the exchange of Palestinian hostages and prisoners before the start of Ramadan failed.
The news of the delegation's departure was given by al Jazeera, citing a Hamas source according to whom there had been intense contacts between Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh and the mediators to resume negotiations in Cairo and that Haniyeh assured the mediators that any round of negotiations should begin on the basis of a permanent ceasefire.
Biden to Egypt and Qatar: pressure is needed on Hamas for an agreement
According to what a senior US administration official told 'The Times of Israel', US President Joe Biden would have written to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, inviting them to put pressure on Hamas for the Palestinian group to agree to a hostage deal with Israel. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Biden's national security adviser will meet on Monday with family members of some of the approximately 100 hostages believed to still be in Gaza.
US pressure on Israel
The communications to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Qatar's ruling emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, were sent as Biden sent CIA Director Bill Burns to Cairo for talks this weekend on the hostage crisis. The head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and senior officials from Qatar and Egypt on the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza are expected to take part in the meeting, as Axios journalist Barak Ravid indicated on of the news.
White House officials said negotiating a pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas to facilitate the exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel is the only way to implement a temporary ceasefire and increase the flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the territory. Senior administration officials say Biden discussed the upcoming round of hostage talks in Cairo this weekend with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the phone call on Thursday.
It therefore continues pressure from Washington for Israel to act by giving priority to the protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip, in a climate of very high tension after the raid which caused the death of seven workers from the NGO World Central Kitchen (Wck). “As Israel conducts any operation against Hamas, it must make the protection of civilians a priority, it must make it its main job,” said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, recalling that in Thursday's phone call “Prime Netanyahu indicated to President Biden that Israel will implement further changes in its procedures so that those providing assistance to those in desperate need are protected.” “We will observe with great attention what these measures will be, how we will achieve better deconfliction, better coordination so that aid workers are protected”, said the Secretary of State, reiterating that the protection of civilians “must be a priority and the Military operations must be built around it, not the other way around.”
Pelosi and 37 other Democrats ask for a halt to weapons from Israel
Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi joins the request of dozens of members of the left who are asking the Biden administration to stop the transfer of weapons to Israel after the raid in which seven aid workers were killed in Gaza. “In light of the recent raid against aid workers and the continuing worsening of the humanitarian crisis, we believe that it is unjustifiable to approve this arms transfer” reads the letter signed by the former Democratic Speaker and 37 other deputies.
The letter, which marks a significant departure from the Democrats' traditional pro-Israel policy, refers to the recent approval given by the State Department to approximately 2,000 bombs and new fighter jets destined for Israel, the shipment of which had already been authorized by Congress. Regarding the investigation into the dynamics of the raid against the NGO World Central Kitchen team, in which there was also an American citizen, the letter states: “If it is determined that the raid violated US or international laws, we ask you to continue to block these arms transfers until those responsible are brought to justice.”
Asked by Axios about her decision to join the appeal, Pelosi said that “the Israeli government must allow the entry of life-saving aid to innocent families in Gaza and guarantee safe passage to those who deliver this aid. Hunger does not can be used as a weapon of war.”
IDF and Shin Bet eliminate senior Hamas internal security official
The Israeli security forces – army and Shin Bet – have killed Akram Abdel Rahman Hossein Salama, a senior member of Hamas' internal security apparatus, in the south of the Gaza Strip. The IDF reported this, adding that Salama held several key positions in the terrorist organization, including that of deputy head of the Khan Younis district. As part of his position, he was involved in the planning and execution of major terrorist attacks in the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Lifeless body of hostage recovered, killed by Islamic Jihad
The The lifeless body of Israeli hostage Elad Katzir was recovered during a night raid in Khan Yunis and brought back to Israel. The Israeli army announced it. Katzir was taken by terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. In a joint message the IDF and the Shin Bet announced that, according to credible intelligence sources, Katzir was assassinated by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. After the body was identified, the news was announced to the family. During the attack on October 7, Katzir's mother was kidnapped and released the following month. His father was killed that same day. Katzir appeared in an Islamic Jihad propaganda video released in December and again in early January. The body recovery operation was carried out based on information provided by the Shin Bet and the IDF.
At least 33,137 Palestinians dead in Gaza
At least 33,137 Palestinians have been killed and 75,815 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October. This was reported by the Strip's Ministry of Health, adding that 46 Palestinians were killed and 65 injured in the last 24 hours.
Hezbollah positions hit in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces have launched raids against Hezbollah positions in the Ayta ash-Shab, Arnoun and Tayr Harfa regions of southern Lebanon, as Hezbollah attacks against northern Israel continue. The Times of Israel reported the news, citing the IDF. The military also hit areas near Aalma ash-Shab with artillery fire to remove “elements that posed a threat.”
Syria, roadside bomb: 7 children killed
Seven children were killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the southern Syrian province of Daara today. State media reported it. A local radio station, Sham FM radio, reported the news of subsequent explosions heard near the capital Damascus.
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