After the targeted killings of high-ranking enemies of Israel, Gaza diplomacy fell completely behind. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office brings it back on the agenda.
Against the backdrop of a threatened attack by Iran and its allies on Israel, efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza war are continuing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the sending of a delegation to talks in Cairo, his office said. The delegation will leave for the Egyptian capital on Saturday evening or Sunday, it said.
Egypt, Qatar and the USA are mediating in the indirect negotiations with the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They also aim to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas. In return, Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons. The talks have been going in circles for months. Recently, Israel’s position has hardened, insisting on its military remaining in strategic locations in the Gaza Strip for a longer period of time.
In recent days, it also seemed that the Gaza negotiations were coming to a standstill due to the targeted killings of prominent enemies of Israel. The deadly attacks on Hamas foreign chief Ismail Haniya in Tehran and on high-ranking Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut have prompted Iran and its allied Lebanese Shiite militia to threaten Israel with massive retaliation.
Israel claimed responsibility for the airstrike on Shukr. It has not yet commented on the attack on Haniya. Iran and Hamas blame Israel for it. US President Joe Biden said that the killing of Haniya did not improve the chances of a ceasefire in Gaza.
The statement from Netanyahu’s office does not place great expectations on the upcoming round of talks in Cairo. Hamas continues to hold on to demands that are unacceptable to Israel, it said.
The Gaza war was triggered by the unprecedented massacre with more than 1,200 deaths that terrorists from Hamas and other groups carried out in Israel on October 7 of the previous year.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
