Egypt warns of risk of escalation in Gaza war if truce deal not reached: Al-Qahera News

Ahram Online , Thursday 9 May 2024

Egypt has reiterated its warning to the parties involved in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations about the potential danger of escalation if the current talks fail to reach a truce agreement, a high-level source told Al-Qahera News channel on Thursday.

Israeli strikes
Smoke billows from Israeli strikes in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 9, 2024. AFP

 

Earlier today, truce talks resumed in Cairo with the participation of all delegations, the source added.

On Wednesday, a source told the channel that the participating delegations – representing Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Hamad – have achieved some progress, yet some controversial points remained unresolved.

According to a high-level Egyptian source cited by Al-Ghad TV channel, the Israeli delegation attempted to raise other controversial points during the talks before the Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators.

Israel also insisted on reducing the number of Palestinians released per Israeli captives. The source further explained that while Hamas proposed releasing three detainees weekly, Israel demanded daily releases.

Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US are strongly pushing for a deal that achieves a cessation of Israeli attacks in Gaza and facilitates exchanging dozens of captives still held by Hamas.

Since the war began on 7 October, Israeli occupation forces have killed 34,844 people, injured 78,404, caused extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.

On Friday, the United Nations General Assembly is scheduled to vote regarding an amended draft resolution to recognize Palestine's eligibility for full membership.

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