Israel will send a delegation to Cairo in the coming days to negotiate a ceasefire and a hostage release deal with Hamas, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday.
"The negotiating team for a hostage deal will depart for Cairo on Saturday night or on Sunday," stated the official announcement.
However, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the move, telling Reuters, "Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences."
Delegation to Cairo
Israel's delegation is set to arrive in Cairo this weekend to discuss ceasefire terms and a potential hostage release from the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip. The Israeli Prime Minister's office emphasized that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar remains a significant obstacle to reaching an agreement.
In response, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, accused Israel of using the negotiations to mask its ongoing actions, calling the statements from Netanyahu’s office "empty."
Background of the Conflict
The current conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and the abduction of over 200 individuals. Israel responded with extensive bombardments in Gaza, leading to the deaths of 39,480 Palestinians, including many women and children, and injuring 91,128 others.
Assassination of Hamas Leader
The negotiations come at a tense time, following the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this week. Haniyeh was killed in an airstrike while in the Iranian capital for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's new President, Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps accused Israel of carrying out the attack and vowed a harsh response. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the airstrike.
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