The talks held with the Israeli negotiators in Egypt on Tuesday for a truce with Hamas were "positive" and could lead to an imminent end of the current Israeli military operation in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah, Egyptian sources told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
"Today's meeting with the Israeli delegation addressed some of the six points of disagreement between Israel and Hamas and made progress in the discussions," the sources added, reported Xinhua.
Among the points of disagreement between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas is that Israel seeks the release of three Israeli hostages every three days, while Hamas agrees to release three every week.
The two sides also failed to reach a consensus on Hamas's request to release a list of Palestinians, the sources said.
Israel doesn't want Hamas to control the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing and the negotiating sides are discussing a different Palestinian body, according to the sources.
Earlier on Tuesday, Egypt hosted delegations from Hamas, Israel, Qatar, and the United States to reach a comprehensive truce in Gaza.
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the delegation to "continue to stand firm on the conditions necessary for the release of our hostages, continue to stand firm on the essential requirements to ensure Israel's security."
He noted that the ceasefire proposal, brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators and approved by Hamas on Monday, fell short of Israel's essential requirements.
The Israeli army on Tuesday launched a military operation in Rafah, where more than 1 million internally displaced Palestinians have sought refuge since Israel's offensive began on Oct. 7 last year.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
The progress made in the truce talks between Israel and Hamas is a positive step towards resolving the conflict in Gaza. It’s crucial that both sides work towards finding common ground and achieving peace for the region.
Do you think the release of hostages will be a sticking point in reaching a truce between Israel and Hamas?
Yes, the release of hostages remains a significant point of contention between Israel and Hamas. Both sides have differing approaches, with Israel pushing for a faster release schedule while Hamas seeks a more gradual approach. This issue, along with Hamas’s request regarding the Palestinian border control and the release of Palestinian prisoners, remains a key focus of the ongoing negotiations.
It’s great to hear that the truce talks are progressing positively. Hopefully, both sides can come to an agreement soon for the sake of peace in the region.