Gaza Eid ceasefire talks resume after standstill, Egyptian sources say

Work has started on temporary truce talks between Israel and Hamas for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Egyptian sources familiar with the situation have said.

Citing an Egyptian security source, Reuters reported that an Israeli delegation is currently visiting Cairo following failed attempts to reach a truce during Ramadan.

A Hamas official told the agency that the group will wait to hear from Cairo mediators on the outcome of their talks with Israel first.

The Egyptian sources said that the Israeli delegation "did not present anything new that could help break through the tense situation in the negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement".

An Egyptian Source who spoke to The New Arab's Arabic-language sister site Al Araby Al-Jadeed said that the Israeli delegation visit was not part of the ceasefire negotiations, and that it was mainly for security and logistical arrangements related to the situation on the border between Egypt and Gaza.

The delegation includes representatives from the intelligence agency Mossad, the internal security agency Shin Bet, and the military intelligence agency Aman, according to Israel's Channel 12.

Negotiations come to a standstill

The Egyptian source confirmed that while talks are still ongoing, the negotiations had "stalled at the main points".

The source added that the officials have not yet reached an agreement on some of the main issues, and there is no indication that Israel will allow for Palestinians displaced from the north to return to their homes.

Following the breakdown of negotiations and the failure to implement a ceasefire which would stop further invasion of Rafah, the focus of talks is now centred on a three-day humanitarian truce starting on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.

Speaking to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Egyptian source said that the talks would include discussions about Israel’s ground operation in Rafah and treatment of those wounded.

"What emerged from the discussions is that the Israeli side does not have any guarantees regarding the lives of civilians," the source said, adding that they did not provide any answers to questions about their targeting of civilians.

The truce talks are the latest attempt to implement a ceasefire after six months since the war broke out on 7 October.

Egypt, the US and Qatar have previously tried to mediate negotiations, which have failed to bring a lasting end to Israel's onslaught.

At least 32,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, and at least 70,000 wounded.