Negotiations aimed at brokering a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel in Egypt concluded on Tuesday with no significant progress, according to a Hamas official.
The talks, which marked the second consecutive day of discussions, did not involve Israel, which chose not to send a delegation or comment publicly on the negotiations.
Representatives from Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist militant group governing the Gaza Strip, participated in the talks with mediators on both Monday and Tuesday.
Egyptian state media reported that the negotiations faced hurdles but would continue for a third day in Cairo. Despite the efforts, a breakthrough in the conflict, which has persisted for months, remains elusive.
The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been mediating the discussions. The U.S. has publicly pressured Hamas to accept Israel's proposed deal, which aims to implement a temporary cease-fire and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan just days away, there is no sign of an imminent resolution to the conflict. Previous cease-fires, including one in late November, allowed for the release of over 100 Israeli hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel.
However, progress toward another cease-fire and hostage deal has been slow, according to Israeli officials. The ongoing conflict is the deadliest outbreak of violence between Israel and Hamas since Israel's founding in 1948.
It was triggered by an unprecedented incursion from Gaza into southern Israel by air, land, and sea on October 7, 2023. The attack resulted in over 1,200 fatalities and the hostage-taking of more than 200 individuals, according to Israeli authorities.
As the conflict persists, approximately 134 hostages are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, with at least 32 of them presumed dead. Gaza, home to over 2 million Palestinians, has been under an indefinite blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas won legislative elections in 2007.
Humanitarian organizations warn of an impending famine in Gaza due to restricted access to food and aid, particularly in isolated areas. In response to the ongoing crisis, the United Nations and other organizations have conducted airdrops of food in northern Gaza, where access to aid has been severely limited.
Despite international efforts, the conflict shows no signs of abating, prolonging the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
Follow us
