Hamas says Gaza truce negotiations still ongoing

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Palestinian group Hamas confirmed Thursday that negotiations were still ongoing for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

A statement by the group said a Hamas delegation had left the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for consultations with its leadership.

“Efforts are still ongoing to stop the Israeli aggression, return the displaced, and bring relief aid to our Palestinian people,” it added.

Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News, citing a well-placed Egyptian source, said negotiations were still ongoing to reach a truce in Gaza before the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, due to start next week.

According to the source, the Hamas delegation left Cairo for consultations and the truce talks will be resumed next week.

According to Israeli media, mediators seek to bridge differences between Israel and Hamas on the details of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as the prisoners to be released from both sides.

Hamas is believed to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages since its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, which Tel Aviv said killed nearly 1,200 people.

Israel has since pounded the Gaza Strip, killing at least 30,800 people and injuring nearly 73,000 amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

About 85% of Gazans have been displaced by the Israeli onslaught amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul