In Paris on Friday, Gaza truce talks took place, marking a significant effort to halt the ongoing conflict in the battered Palestinian enclave and secure the release of Israeli and foreign hostages.
An undisclosed source familiar with the ceasefire discussions revealed that talks had commenced with Israel’s Mossad intelligence chief meeting individually with representatives from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The source expressed cautious optimism about the potential progress towards initiating meaningful negotiations, with Egypt’s Al Qahera TV News also confirming the start of the talks.
A Hamas official mentioned that the militant group had completed ceasefire discussions in Cairo and was now awaiting the outcomes of the weekend talks with Israel brought by the mediators.
Efforts by mediators intensified to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza to prevent a potential Israeli assault on the city of Rafah, where over a million displaced individuals are currently seeking shelter at the southern border of the enclave.
Israel has threatened an attack on the city if a truce is not established promptly. The United States has urged Israel to refrain from such actions, citing the risk of significant civilian casualties in the event of an assault.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Egyptian mediators in Cairo to discuss a potential truce, marking his first visit since December.
Earlier, two Egyptian security sources confirmed that the Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel would head to Paris on Friday for discussions with the Israelis following his meetings with Haniyeh on Thursday.
Israel has not publicly commented on the Paris talks, which are anticipated to continue over the weekend.
The Hamas official, speaking under anonymity, mentioned that the group did not present a new proposal during the discussions with the Egyptians but is awaiting feedback from the mediators after their talks with the Israelis.
“We shared our proposal with the Egyptians and will await their return from Paris,” the Hamas official stated.
CEASEFIRE OUTLINE FROM PREVIOUS TALKS
During similar talks in Paris at the beginning of February, an initial ceasefire framework was established, endorsed by Israel and the United States. However, Hamas countered with a proposal that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu subsequently rejected as “delusional.”
Hamas, believed to be still holding more than 100 hostages from the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the conflict, insists on their release only as part of a truce leading to an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. On the contrary, Israel asserts that it will not withdraw until Hamas is eliminated.
Netanyahu presented an official post-conflict plan for Gaza to his security cabinet on Thursday, outlining Israel’s intention to retain security control over the enclave after dismantling Hamas and excluding any involvement from the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.
Contrastingly, Washington supports the incorporation of a reformed PA in the region.
Two Palestinian officials involved in the negotiations confirmed that Hamas maintains its stance in the current efforts for a resolution, insisting on an Israeli withdrawal as part of the truce agreement.
During a press conference in Beirut on Friday, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan criticized Israel’s negative response to mediation efforts, stating that it poses significant obstacles to reaching a consensus.
Hamdan accused Netanyahu of stalling the process, alleging that the prime minister prioritizes personal goals over the release of hostages by exploiting the situation.
TRAGIC LOSSES AMIDST AIR STRIKES
As darkness enveloped the impoverished region, an air strike targeting a residential area in central Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah claimed the lives of at least 22 Palestinians, as reported by health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra.
Health officials disclosed that Mahmoud Abu Zaeiter, a popular comedian with a significant online following, lost several family members in the tragic incident.
Israel refrained from immediate comment, asserting its efforts to minimize civilian casualties while engaging in urban combat against militants.
The Gaza health ministry reported that 104 individuals had perished, with 160 others wounded in Israeli military operations within the past 24 hours.
According to the Israeli military, numerous militants were eliminated, and weapons were seized across Gaza since Thursday.
In Rafah’s morgue, where a large portion of Gaza’s population seeks refuge, a grieving family mourned over the loss of their child due to Israeli strikes overnight into Friday, underscoring the devastating impact of the conflict.
Deir al-Balah remains one of the few areas yet to be targeted by Israeli forces. Videos capturing the anguish of bereaved families at a crowded hospital, including Ahmed Azzam grieving over the loss of his infant son, emphasize the civilian toll of the ongoing hostilities.
The Gaza health ministry reported a death toll of at least 29,514 Palestinians in Gaza since Oct. 7 due to Israeli airstrikes.
Israel initiated its prolonged military campaign in response to the Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, resulting in casualties and hostages, sparking the current conflict.