Hamas chief visits Cairo, an indication talks on one other Gaza truce and hostage swap are gathering tempo

By Carolina Stanton On Dec 21, 2023

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas’ high chief traveled to Cairo on Wednesday for talks on the battle in Gaza, a part of a flurry of diplomacy aimed toward securing one other cease-fire and hostage swap at a second when the militant group is placing up stiff resistance to Israel’s offensive.

Ismail Haniyeh’s go to got here a day after Hamas fired rockets that set off air raid sirens in central Israel, a present of power throughout a 10-week battle 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 known as on the remainder of the world to blacklist Hamas as a terrorist group, saying it have to be eradicated within the wake of its Oct. 7 rampage throughout southern Israel that triggered the battle.

But the perimeters have just lately relaunched oblique talks, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, aimed toward instituting one other cease-fire and releasing extra hostages captured in that assault in change for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Mobile telephone and web service was down throughout Gaza once more on Wednesday, an outage that might complicate efforts to speak with Hamas’ leaders contained in the territory who went into hiding after Oct. 7.

Despite a burst of exercise by high-level officers in latest days, the 2 sides gave the impression to be removed from an settlement.

Hamas has mentioned no extra hostages will probably be launched till the battle ends, and is anticipated to insist on the discharge of enormous numbers of Palestinian prisoners, together with high-level militants, for the captives that stay – calls for Israel has to this point rejected.

Egypt, together with Qatar, helped mediate a weeklong cease-fire in November by which Hamas freed over 100 hostages in change for Israel‘s release of 240 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas and other militants are still holding an estimated 129 captives.

Hamas said in a statement that Haniyeh would discuss the war with Egyptian officials, without providing more details. Egypt, which borders Gaza, is deeply concerned about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees, fearing Israel will not allow them to return.

Haniyeh is believed to be based in Qatar, though Hamas rarely publicizes the whereabouts of its leaders for their security.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday that Israeli forces were entering Hamas’ tunnel community in northern Gaza as a part of a “final clearing” of militants from the area. The densely constructed city north – together with Gaza City, the territory’s largest – has seen ferocious combating, with Palestinian well being officers reporting dozens of individuals killed in bombardment in latest days.

Gallant mentioned that in southern Gaza, operations will take “months,” together with the army’s assault on Khan Younis, the enclave’s second-largest metropolis. “We will not stop until we reach our goals,” he mentioned.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza mentioned Tuesday the demise toll because the begin of the battle had risen to greater than 19,600. It doesn’t distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.

At least 46 individuals have been killed and greater than 100 wounded early Wednesday as Israel continued to bombard the city Jabaliya refugee camp close to Gaza City, in accordance with Munir al-Bursh, a senior Health Ministry official.

Hamas and different militants killed some 1,200 individuals, 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, and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, saying it makes use of them as human shields when it fights in residential areas.

U.N. Security Council members are negotiating an Arab-sponsored decision to halt the combating not directly to permit for a rise in desperately wanted humanitarian assist deliveries to Gaza. A vote on the decision, first scheduled for Monday, was pushed again once more till Wednesday as talks continued within the hopes of getting the U.S. to abstain or vote “yes” on the decision after it vetoed an earlier cease-fire name.

France, the United Kingdom and Germany — a few of Israel’s closest allies – joined world requires a cease-fire over the weekend. In Israel, protesters have known as for negotiations with Hamas to facilitate the discharge of scores of hostages nonetheless held by the group.

Israel says it can maintain combating till it has eliminated Hamas from energy, dismantled its armed wing and returned all of the hostages. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has known as on Israel to take higher steps to spare civilians however has continued to offer diplomatic and army help for the offensive.

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Magdy reported from Cairo.