Conflicts & War

Egypt’s Sisi hopes for ceasefire agreement in Gaza in ‘coming days’

Cairo/Jerusalem, Feb 28 (EFE).- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday expressed hope for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip in the coming few days.

“We hope that in the coming few days, we will reach a ceasefire and that there will be a real relief for the people of Gaza,” El-Sisi said during a social gathering in Cairo.

This marks the first direct statement from the Egyptian president, a key mediator, regarding the ongoing peace negotiations between Israel and the Islamist group governing Gaza.

Israeli and Hamas representatives are holding indirect negotiations with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, focusing on a ceasefire agreement, the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.

Although El-Sisi did not disclose details about the progress of the talks, he affirmed that Cairo would continue to assist with the issue and expressed hope for an early end to the “crisis” caused by the conflict in Gaza.

The remarks came a day after Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were ongoing in Doha, but tangible progress had not yet been made.

Meanwhile, Hamas officials on Wednesday said that the return of displaced Gazans to the northern part of the enclave and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire after an initial temporary truce were the main obstacles to reach an agreement with Israel.

“The return of displaced to the northern areas of Gaza is considered the obstacle to finalizing the agreement so far,” a Hamas source told EFE. “We want a clear clause in the agreement that emphasizes a comprehensive ceasefire after the first phase of calm.”

According to a leaked draft agreement discussed among involved parties in Paris last week, the first phase of the ceasefire would last about 40 days, during which about 40 Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for 400 Palestinian prisoners.

In November, Israel and Hamas agreed on a seven-day ceasefire that facilitated the release of 105 Israeli hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian detainees.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on Oct. 7, after a multipronged attack by the Islamist group resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israeli territory and the abduction of at least 240 hostages by militants.

Since then, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 30,000 Gazans, mostly children and women, and the injury of over 70,300 people in the Strip. EFE

fa-pms/bks

Related Articles

Back to top button