Representatives of the terrorist group Hamas are currently in Cairo, Egypt, negotiating a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip with Israel. The discussions have been ongoing since October 2023, with no consensus reached on ending the war.
Reports suggest that there has been significant progress in the negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli government. Pressure from the international community to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and threats of an Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah have pushed both sides towards a potential ceasefire.
In a statement released on Friday, Hamas expressed a positive attitude towards the negotiations and outlined its demands for accepting a ceasefire. These demands include stopping aggression, withdrawing occupation forces, assisting displaced people, starting reconstruction, and finalizing an exchange agreement.
Israeli mediators have proposed a temporary truce to Hamas, offering a 40-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. Hamas has a week to respond to the proposal, with more radical factions within the Israeli government opposing a complete end to the offensive.
Hamas is expected to provide a response on the ceasefire in the coming days, with Israel urging them to accept the agreement or face an offensive in Rafah if the deadline is not met. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that the war will continue until all objectives are achieved.
The situation remains tense as negotiations continue in Cairo, with hopes for a resolution to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. Both sides are under pressure to agree to a ceasefire and avoid further escalation of the violence.