Events haggling over a attainable cease-fire in Gaza supplied blended alerts on Wednesday, with Hamas’s political chief saying that the group was able to hold preventing Israel whereas the president of Egypt stated {that a} truce might be reached “within the subsequent few days.”
The Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, stated in a televised speech that the group was open to the mediated talks with Israel, however that “any flexibility we present within the negotiation course of is a dedication to defending the blood of our folks, matched by a readiness to defend them.”
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, which is brokering the talks together with Qatar and the USA, supplied a rosier view, saying that, “God keen, within the subsequent few days, we’ll attain a cease-fire settlement” to convey “actual reduction” to the folks of Gaza. The prediction matched that of President Biden, who stated {that a} deal might come as quickly as subsequent week.
In public, nonetheless, Hamas and Israel are sticking with their longstanding positions and never signaling any breakthrough. The 2 sides haven’t met nose to nose, as a substitute negotiating by mediators in Doha, Cairo and Paris. Hamas leaders proceed to demand that Israel comply with a everlasting cease-fire and withdraw all its troops from Gaza, whereas Israel has insisted that it’ll proceed preventing till Hamas is eradicated, suggesting it’s not ready to comply with a long-term truce.
Qatar’s overseas ministry stated this week that talks have been persevering with and it was too early to take a position a few decision. Mr. Haniyeh didn’t touch upon particular phrases of a cease-fire deal that might be underneath dialogue, and it was not clear whether or not his remarks mirrored actual reservations or have been a negotiating tactic.
The beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, round March 10, has emerged as a goal for mediators to hammer out a truce within the conflict, which began with an Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel that authorities there say killed a minimum of 1,200 folks.
Mr. Haniyeh appeared to boost the stakes for reaching a deal within the coming days, calling on Palestinians in Jerusalem and the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution to defy Israeli restrictions and march to the Aqsa mosque to hope at the beginning of Ramadan. That creates the prospect of clashes if Palestinians try and method the mosque, one of many holiest websites in Islam and a longtime flashpoint in relations with Israel.
Israel has restricted entry to the Aqsa mosque for West Financial institution Palestinians, and it has severely restricted motion throughout the West Financial institution because the begin of the conflict in Gaza. Israeli officers are debating whether or not to put additional restrictions on entry to the mosque for some members of the nation’s Arab minority, a transfer that would spark additional unrest.
With the conflict’s demise toll in Gaza nearing 30,000, in keeping with well being officers within the territory, strain is constructing on Israel and the Biden administration, its chief ally, to safe a cease-fire. Israel has supplied a minimum of one vital concession, telling Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators in Paris final week that it was able to launch 15 Palestinians jailed on critical terrorism fees in trade for 5 feminine Israeli troopers being held in Gaza, in keeping with officers.
However a Hamas spokesman, Basem Naim, advised The New York Instances on Tuesday that the group had but to formally obtain “any new proposals” because the Paris assembly. Mr. Haniyeh met on Monday with the emir of Qatar and accused Israel of dragging its ft within the talks, in keeping with a Hamas assertion.
Israeli officers have stated the aim is to succeed in a deal earlier than the beginning of Ramadan. An Israeli delegation — together with professionals from Mossad, Israel’s intelligence company, and its navy — traveled to Qatar this week for extra discussions, together with over such particulars because the identities of the hostages and prisoners to be exchanged, in keeping with an Israeli official.
Rawan Sheikh Ahmad, Nada Rashwan and Adam Sella contributed reporting.