Hamas leader visits Cairo as talks build for another Gaza cease-fire | CityNews Calgary
Hamas’ high chief traveled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks on the struggle in Gaza, a part of a flurry of diplomacy to safe one other cease-fire and swap of hostages for Palestinian prisoners at a second when Israel’s offensive reveals no indicators of slowing.
Hamas militants have put up stiff resistance these days, even because the Israeli military claims to be making progress in eradicating them.
The go to to Cairo by Ismail Haniyeh got here a day after Hamas fired rockets that set off air raid sirens in central Israel. It was a present of energy after a 10-week struggle that has devastated a lot of northern Gaza, killed almost 20,000 Palestinians, and pushed some 1.9 million — almost 85% of the inhabitants — from their houses.
Israel has referred to as on the remainder of the world to blacklist Hamas as a terrorist group, saying it have to be faraway from energy in Gaza within the wake of its Oct. 7 rampage throughout southern Israel that triggered the struggle.
But the perimeters have lately relaunched oblique talks, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. The aim is to realize one other cease-fire, and to free extra hostages Hamas took in its assault in change for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
“These are very serious discussions and negotiations, and we hope that they lead somewhere,” the White House’s nationwide safety spokesman, John Kirby, stated Wednesday aboard Air Force One whereas touring with President Joe Biden to Wisconsin.
Biden, nonetheless, indicated a deal was nonetheless a methods off. “There’s no expectation at this point, but we are pushing,” he stated.
Asked concerning the fast-rising demise toll in Gaza, Biden stated: “It’s tragic.”
Mobile telephone and web service was down throughout Gaza once more on Wednesday. The outage may complicate efforts to speak with Hamas leaders contained in the territory who went into hiding after Oct. 7.
The struggle has led to a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Tens of 1000’s of persons are crammed into shelters and tent camps amid shortages of meals, medication and different primary provides. Israel’s overseas minister traveled to Cyprus to debate the potential for establishing a maritime hall that will permit the supply of enormous quantities of humanitarian support to Gaza.
WIDE GAP REMAINS IN TALKS ON HOSTAGES
Despite a burst of diplomacy by high-level officers in current days, the 2 sides appeared removed from an settlement.
Hamas has stated no extra hostages will probably be launched till the struggle ends, and is predicted to insist on the discharge of enormous numbers of Palestinian prisoners, together with high-level militants, for the captives that stay.
Speaking concerning the postwar interval in Gaza, a senior Hamas official appeared to criticize U.S. calls to deliver again the internationally acknowledged Palestinian Authority, which was ousted by Hamas in 2007. Whoever thinks that he can “come over on an American or Israeli tank to Gaza or any other part of Palestine, Palestinians will consider him an agent and traitor,” Osama Hamdan stated in Beirut.
Israel has rejected Hamas’ calls for for a mass prisoner launch up to now. But it has a historical past of lopsided exchanges for captive Israelis, and the federal government is underneath heavy public stress to deliver the hostages dwelling safely.
Egypt, together with Qatar, helped mediate a weeklong cease-fire in November during which Hamas freed over 100 hostages in change for Israel’s launch of 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and different militants are nonetheless holding an estimated 129 captives.
Egypt, which borders Gaza, is deeply involved a few potential inflow of Palestinian refugees, fearing Israel won’t permit them to return.
ISRAEL SAYS ‘FINAL CLEARING’ UNDERWAY IN THE NORTH
At least 46 folks have been killed and greater than 100 wounded early Wednesday after Israel bombarded the city Jabaliya refugee camp close to Gaza City, based on Munir al-Bursh, a senior Health Ministry official.
In southern Gaza, a number of ladies and kids have been amongst these introduced into Nasser Hospital within the metropolis of Khan Younis after strikes in a single day and into Wednesday. A boy may very well be seen sobbing subsequent to his wounded mom, who was laid out on a stretcher, earlier than being lifted up and positioned on her chest.
At least 5 folks have been killed and dozens injured in one other strike that hit three residential houses and a mosque in Gaza’s southern metropolis of Rafah Wednesday, well being officers stated.
The Israeli army stated it had made quite a lot of important advances on Wednesday, pushing into what it stated was the final Hamas stronghold in Gaza City, the neighborhood of Tufah.
It additionally stated it had found a “vast tunnel network” underneath Gaza City that included command and management positions, assembly rooms and hideout residences for high Hamas leaders. The military’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, stated the community led to locations all through Gaza, together with main hospitals.
But the military additionally acknowledged a major setback. An investigation into its troopers’ mistaken taking pictures of three Israelis held hostage in Gaza discovered that, 5 days earlier than the taking pictures, a army search canine with a physique digital camera had captured audio of them shouting in Hebrew for assist.
Hagari stated the recording was not reviewed till after the hostages have been killed whereas attempting to make themselves recognized to Israeli forces.
The incident has sparked an uproar in Israel. The chief of the army has stated the taking pictures was towards its guidelines of engagement.
With the Palestinian demise toll steadily rising, Israel has come underneath rising stress to halt or reduce its offensive. But Israeli leaders vow to press forward.
“We will continue the war until the end. It will continue until Hamas is destroyed, until victory,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Wednesday. “Whoever thinks we will stop is detached from reality,” saying each member of Hamas is “marked for death.”
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza stated Tuesday the demise toll for the reason that begin of the struggle had risen to greater than 19,600. It doesn’t distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.
Hamas and different militants killed some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault.
Israel’s army says 134 of its troopers have been killed within the Gaza floor offensive. Israel says it has killed some 7,000 militants, with out offering proof. It blames civilian deaths in Gaza on Hamas, saying it makes use of them as human shields when it fights in residential areas.
UN MEMBERS STILL PUSHING US ON AID RESOLUTION
U.N. Security Council members are negotiating an Arab-sponsored decision to halt the combating in a roundabout way to permit for a rise in desperately wanted humanitarian support deliveries to Gaza. A vote on the decision, first scheduled for Monday, was pushed again once more till Thursday as talks continued within the hopes of getting the U.S. to help it or permit it to cross after it vetoed an earlier cease-fire name.
France, the United Kingdom and Germany — a few of Israel’s closest allies — joined international requires a cease-fire over the weekend.
The Biden administration has referred to as on Israel to take larger steps to spare civilians however has continued to offer diplomatic and army help for the offensive.
Kirby stated Wednesday that it’s vital {that a} decision embrace a condemnation of Hamas’ actions on Oct. 7, recognition that Israel wants to have the ability to defend itself and a major dedication by member states to get humanitarian support to the folks of Gaza.
