Gaza truce for Ramazan hangs in balance

Mediators are expected to gather again in Cairo as soon as today (Sunday) to search for a formula acceptable to Israel and Hamas for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Sources said that pressure is mounting for a pause in fighting by Ramazan.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas are expected in Cairo today, says two Egyptian security sources. However, another source said that Israel would not send a delegation until it got a full list of hostages who are still alive.

This week, hopes for the first break in fighting since November rose after a previous round of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and US President Joe Biden’s indications that an agreement was very close.

Hamas official said that the group has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process towards ending the war altogether.

Assurances had been offered to Hamas that the terms of a permanent ceasefire would be worked out in second and third phases of the deal, Egyptian sources said.