Palestinians make their way over rubble, past destroyed buildings after the Israeli military withdrew following a two-week offensive from the Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas group, July 11, 2024. /CFP
An Israeli delegation was set to travel to Cairo on Thursday evening to continue ceasefire talks concerning Gaza, according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The delegation, led by Ronen Bar, director of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, and including representatives from the Israel Defense Forces, will focus on a possible Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border and the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a critical entry point for aid that has been closed since early May.
This move comes after the Israeli negotiating team returned from four-party talks with mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in Doha, where discussions centered on returning Israeli hostages and implementing a ceasefire while ensuring Israel's war objectives are met.
On Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas war, emphasizing that Israel must not occupy Gaza post-conflict. In a news conference, he stated, "The framework is now agreed on by both Israel and Hamas. So I sent my team to the region to hammer out the details."
In late May, he outlined a three-phase proposal aimed at resolving the conflict. The plan includes achieving a ceasefire, securing the release of hostages in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and facilitating Israel's withdrawal from Gaza to enable rebuilding efforts.
CIA Director Bill Burns and U.S. Middle East envoy Brett McGurk were in the Middle East this week, meeting with regional counterparts to discuss the ceasefire agreement. Despite some progress, Biden acknowledged that gaps remain in the negotiations.
A queue of Palestinian vehicles waits at the Beit Furik checkpoint, east of Nablus in the West Bank, after it was closed by the Israeli military, July 11, 2024. /CFP
The Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to a key element of the U.S. plan, dropping its demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing an agreement. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on Thursday that any deal must allow Israel to resume fighting until all its war objectives are achieved.
At a military officers' graduation ceremony, Netanyahu emphasized the necessity of Israeli control over the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent weapon smuggling to Hamas. He insisted on maintaining control over the Philadelphi Corridor, the area between Gaza and Egypt, and the Rafah crossing. He stressed that any agreement should permit Israel to continue military operations until all objectives are met.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has called for a national inquiry into Hamas's October 7 attack, which resulted in significant casualties and kidnappings. The proposed independent inquiry, led by a retired judge, would investigate the actions of the government, military and security agencies. This call for accountability follows the publication of an Israeli military report acknowledging its failure to protect civilians during the attack, particularly in the community of Kibbutz Be'eri.
Hamas has accused Israel of stalling the ceasefire negotiations and has not received any new updates from mediators. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 38,345 deaths and 88,295 injuries in Gaza since October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities. The Palestinian Ministry of Economy has reported significant economic losses due to Israel's ban on over 100 raw materials entering the Palestinian market, affecting various industries and exacerbating economic challenges.
Palestinian boys collect firewood for cooking as they make their way over rubble and past destroyed buildings in the Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, following the Israeli military's withdrawal after a two-week offensive, July 11, 2024. /CFP
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has highlighted the dire conditions faced by Palestinians evacuated from northern Gaza, noting a lack of essential services and increased hostilities. Over 1.9 million people are currently displaced within Gaza, struggling to survive amid the ongoing conflict.
In an effort to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, Jordan has dispatched 50 trucks of aid to Gaza, including food, medical supplies, and other essentials. This aid is part of a broader effort coordinated with international organizations such as the World Food Program and Doctors Without Borders.
The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has heightened regional tensions, influencing various geopolitical dynamics across the Middle East. On Thursday, the U.S.–British coalition conducted five airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, following Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi claimed responsibility for targeting 166 ships linked to Israel, the U.S., and Britain since November 2023. The coalition's response aims to deter further Houthi attacks, which have expanded to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships.
(With input from agencies)