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full screen A man looks at a house destroyed in a robot attack on Rafah this week. Photo: Ismael Abu Dayyah/AP/TT
The negotiations in Cairo on a cease-fire in Gaza have been put on hold, according to several media with access to the talks.
Both Israel’s and Hamas’ delegations have left Cairo.
Israel’s action in Rafah in southern Gaza has put an end to the ongoing round of negotiations in Kario, according to CNN as well as Reuters and Politico, all citing sources within the parties’ delegations.
According to Politico, Hamas has indeed left the negotiations with reference to the situation in Rafah, but the terror-labeled organization is still said to be willing to continue the talks.
Reuters, for its part, states that Israel considers the current round of negotiations “to be over”.
A “high-ranking person” within the government tells the news agency that Israel has expressed reservations about the mediators and that the country’s effort in Rafah continues as planned.
CIA Director Bill Burns, who was in Cairo but has now left Egypt, said earlier this week that he hoped the distance between the parties would narrow. But on Thursday John Kirby, spokesman for the US Security Council, was forced to state:
– It has clearly not decreased.
– This does not mean that we have given up hope. We still believe there is a way forward, but it requires leadership from both sides. And both will have to show moral courage in order to reach an agreement, he continues.
He also warns Israel that an expanded operation in southern Gaza will not knock out Islamist Hamas.
– Pushing into Rafah will not bring (Israel) closer to that goal.