A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas is in the Egyptian capital for truce and captive-release negotiations, with sources saying that some progress has been made.
However, sticking points remain, including Israel’s insistence on launching a ground invasion into Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah.
The Hamas team arrived in Cairo on Saturday to meet mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States regarding a proposal that would halt Israel’s war on Gaza for 40 days and exchange captives for Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by the United Kingdom.
Sources said negotiations are at a critical point as a Qatari technical team is working out the details of a potential deal with the Egyptians. Osama Hamdan, a senior spokesman for Hamas, said: “It’s clear that we are moving forward. There are some good points.
“But till now, we are still talking about the main issue, which is the complete ceasefire and complete withdrawal from Gaza. We hope to find some good and positive answers today.”
Hamdan said one of the “key elements” discussed was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim of sending the army into Rafah.
Meanwhile, The head of the UN World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, says northern Gaza is now experiencing “full-blown famine”.
McCain says thousands of Palestinians are starving after more than six months of war. “It’s horror. There is famine – full-blown famine – in the north and it’s moving its way south,” McCain told the US network NBC in an interview. ---Al Jazeera(Page 7)
