Gaza Truce: Negotiations in ‘Critical Phase’ Before Cairo Round

Negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip are in a “critical phase” ahead of a decisive round in Cairo, amid “obstacles” surrounding the agreement and U.S. accusations that Hamas is backing away from a settlement due to its rejection of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conditions, which it views as “contradictory” to previous proposals. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is trying to bridge the gaps with intermediaries during his visit to the region.

According to experts who spoke to “Asharq Al-Awsat,” “the risks of undermining the agreement are now greater than the chances of achieving it.” They expressed cautious optimism about the course of the Cairo talks, relying on “serious efforts by Washington to force Netanyahu into real concessions,” especially since he has significantly contributed to “diminishing hopes,” which had peaked during the Doha negotiations a week earlier.

U.S. President Joe Biden accused Hamas on Tuesday of “backing away” from the proposed agreement with Israel. Speaking to reporters at Chicago airport, according to “Agence France-Presse,” Biden stated, “Hamas is backing down from the proposed deal.”

Hamas rejected Biden’s statements in a statement on Tuesday, describing them as “misleading allegations that do not reflect the true position of the movement, which is keen to reach a ceasefire.” The statement accused Netanyahu of “obstructing the agreement and setting new conditions and demands.”

The American website “Axios” reported, citing an unnamed source, that there are “two main obstacles” to the negotiations: “the first is Israel’s insistence on maintaining military control over the Phil.