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CIA Director Bill Burns is currently leading another round of ceasefire talks in Cairo between Israel and Hamas in an effort to reach a humanitarian ceasefire.
According to reports, Hamas negotiators have been “more receptive” in discussions since Saturday as the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. According to some US officials, a famine is growing in the northern part of Gaza City, and Israel is positioning itself to carry out a raid on Rafah (the last stronghold of Hamas) soon.
The Hamas delegation, arriving from their political office in Qatar, alongside Egyptian and Qatari mediators, joined for another round of talks less than 24 hours ago. According to Hamas official Taher Al-Nono, the group is seriously considering the mediation proposals, which they are approaching with a “high level of responsibility.” Yet, Hamas maintains firm on their demands, which include an Israeli withdrawal and a definitive end to the conflict.
On the other hand, Israel remains committed to refusing any agreement that would entail ceasing their military actions as part of the hostage release deal. The conflict, which escalated dramatically from a Hamas-initiated raid on October 7, has led to significant 1,100+ casualties in Israel and a reported 30,000 + in Gaza.
This all comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given Hamas one week for Hamas to accept Israel’s recent proposal. According to Netanyahu, if Hamas fails to take the deal, he will begin his military operation in Rafah (the last Hamas-controlled area in Gaza). According to some reports, roughly 5,000 Hamas fighters are believed to be in this region. In addition, there are 1.2 million civilians currently seeking shelter in Rafah.
