Hamas team in Egypt to save ceasefire with Israel as confusion grips Gaza

A Hamas delegation has arrived in Egypt to held talks on the current looming crisis in the ‘fragile’ ceasefire in Gaza, the BBC reported. The regional mediators Egypt and Qatar are intensify efforts to salvage the ceasefire deal.

A senior Egyptian source said to the BBC that regional mediators Egypt and Qatar were “intensifying their diplomatic efforts in an attempt to salvage the ceasefire agreement.”

The Hamas official said to the BBC that a top-level Hamas delegation has now arrived in Cairo for talks on the crisis. He also said that the Palestinian armed group is fully committed to the deal.

Hamas postpone hostage release

Both sides are accusing each other of violating the ceasefire. The Hamas has postponed the release of Israeli hostages scheduled for this weekend.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued an ultimatum to Hamas, demanding the release of all Israeli hostages by Saturday noon. Netanyahu said that if the Palestinian armed group fails to comply with the deal, it will resume intense military operations in the strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end and the Israeli military will resume intense fighting.”

The Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into force on 19 January and is now on the verge of collapsing.

The truce deal was brokered by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.

October 7 attack and Israel’s campaign in Gaza

Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, after its armed fighters entered southern Israel. In the attack, the fighters killed approximately 1,200 Israeli and foreign civilians and captured about 250 individuals, taking them into Gaza as hostages.

In response, Israel started a massive campaign in Gaza and initiated military operations. Later, the war was also joined by the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.