Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas appear to be on track after killings at Gaza aid facility, official says

CNN
—

Officials say progress towards ceasefire agreement to end fighting between Hamas and Israel in Gaza by Ramadan, even after more than 100 Palestinians were killed while trying to obtain food in Gaza City on Thursday Negotiations inside appear to be still on track, with discussions continuing.

U.S. officials said on Friday that there was no sign that talks had seriously derailed, but that it would depend on Hamas’s expected reaction to what was discussed in Paris and Doha over the past week among the parties involved, including Qatar, Egypt, Israel and Arab states. He said that. we. Hamas officials warned Thursday that negotiations could be affected.

CNN has reached out to several Hamas officials about a possible agreement but has not received a response.

Shortly after dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed in Gaza on Thursday, U.S. officials said the chaotic scenes added added urgency to hostage and ceasefire talks.

On Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden called for an “immediate ceasefire.”

“We are working to finalize an agreement between Israel and Hamas for the return of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least the next six weeks, allowing for a surge in aid to the Gaza Strip,” Biden said at the meeting. With Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

A senior administration official said early Friday that the United States was still desperate to get a deal across the finish line before Ramadan, which is about a week away, and that Israel would expand its military operations into Rafah during Ramadan. I warned you. No agreement.

Biden said earlier this week that he hoped to see a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by Monday, but later Friday gave a mixed assessment of that possibility, saying: I think we’ll get there, but we’re not there yet. And it may not be able to get there now. ” Asked if a cease-fire agreement might never be reached, he told reporters: “I still hope that an agreement can be reached.” It’s not over until it’s over. ”

The president said Thursday that deaths at aid sites could make ceasefire negotiations even more difficult.

Asked if the deaths would complicate negotiations, Biden said: “Yeah, I know it will.”

Biden met on Thursday with the leaders of Qatar and Egypt, which are playing a central mediating role in the negotiations.

Technical teams are working on key elements of a potential deal this week in Doha, people familiar with the negotiations said. On Tuesday, Qatari Spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said: “The numbers, the proportions, [IDF] movement of troops. ”

If Hamas releases the female IDF hostages as Israel demands, it is believed that Hamas will demand that Israel release a higher proportion of Palestinian prisoners.

CNN foreign affairs analyst Barak Ravid told Axios on Friday that Israel will provide details on the list of surviving hostages and the number of Palestinian prisoners it wants to release before attending further talks as part of its response to Hamas. It is reported that they are expecting.

“We hope that the differences between the two countries will be bridged and that at least a temporary cessation of hostilities will be reached, leading to permanent war relations.” [ceasefire]” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned on Friday that failure to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas before Ramadan will worsen the Arab and Islamic worlds.

“Everyone recognizes the importance of us succeeding on this issue before Ramadan begins,” he told Turkey’s Antalya Diplomatic Forum.

“If this conflict were to continue into Ramadan, it would have very dire consequences in terms of further stirring up emotions,” he added.

Officials involved in the talks said the agreement would likely be implemented in multiple stages, with the first agreement allowing for the release of groups of Israeli hostages, including women, children and Israelis, and for up to six He said it could lead to a ceasefire that could last for a week. Elderly and sick hostages were sacrificed in exchange for fewer Palestinian prisoners than Hamas had originally requested.

During the ceasefire period, negotiations will take place over more sensitive topics, such as the release of Israeli hostages, long-term prison terms for Palestinian prisoners of war, the withdrawal of IDF troops, and a permanent end to the war in parallel with the so-called “next day.” will be held. problem.

This article was updated Friday with additional details.

CNN’s Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.