Gaza war: Negotiations underway in Cairo to secure new ceasefire deal | Top points

Negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gazaare under way in Cairo, sources said after adelegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Saturday (May 4) for thelatest round of talks on a proposed truce and hostage release in Gaza, the news agency AFP reportedcitingEgyptian media.

The mediators have already rejected Hamas’s demand for Russia, China and Turkey to be the guarantors of a ceasefire deal, reported The Nationalciting sources.

The Hamas delegation led by Khalil Al Hayah and includingZahed Gabreen, a confidante of Yahya Sinwar,arrived in Cairo on Saturday to resume the truce talksafter months of negotiations failed.

Zahed Gabreen, a senior group official and a confidante of Yahya Sinwar, is also in the delegation.

According to a source in the Egyptian intelligence service, there has been significant progress in the negotiations between Hamas andIsrael,and that the Egyptian mediators have "reached an agreed-upon formula on most points of contention."

Hamas launched an unprecedented attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the Palestinian militant group took hundreds of Israelis as hostages.Thisled to Israeli forces striking back hard at the Gaza Strip, killing more than 34,000 people, injuring tens of thousands, and displacing over a million civilians.

Here's a look at the latest updates:

>A report in thePalestinian Al-Quds newspaper on Saturday said that Hamas would announce its approval of the latest proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the coming hours.

>The latest proposal (in the ceasefire agreement)includes a first phase lasting up to 40 days in which up to 33 of 128 Israeli hostages held in Gaza would be releasedalong with IDF withdrawal from parts of Gaza, a report by the Times of Israel said.

>The second phase, which would last for 42 days, would seethe release of all other living hostages and the sides completing arrangements for sustainable calm in Gaza.

>The third and final phase, which would also last for 42 days,would see an exchange of bodies.

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>On Friday, Hamas saidin a statement, "We emphasise the positive spirit with which the Hamasleadership dealt with the ceasefire proposal it recently received, and we are going to Cairo in the same spirit to reach an agreement."

>The Gaza Health Ministry has denounced the passing of a prominent Palestinian physician in an Israeli detention facility following over four months of imprisonment.

In a statement on X, it said that “the torture and assassination” of Dr Adnan al-Barash was the latest example of Israel’s “continued violation of international conventions in dealing with the health sector and medical personnel during its aggression against Gaza”.

>On Friday, Hamas also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuof trying to derail theproposed ceasefire,and hostage release deal with his threats to keep fighting the militants.

>"Netanyahu was the obstructionist of all previous rounds of dialogue... and it is clear that he still is," a Hamas official told AFP.

Al-Amal hospital continues to operate ‘partially’: Red Crescent

The Palestine Red Crescent Society shared a video showing a hospital in Khan Younis and the nearby areas damaged by Israeli airstrikes. The video revealed destroyed buildings and lots of rubble everywhere.

At least 5 dead in Israeli raid in occupied West Bank

The Palestinian Health Ministry stated that Israeli forces allegedly killed five people during a raid on the town of Deir al-Ghusun in Tulkarem district. According to the ministry's Telegram channel, four of those killedwere aged between 32 and 45. This report follows the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Deir al-Ghusun after a 15-hour raid that resulted in fatalities.

Students in Switzerland join Gaza protests

Around 100 students took over a building at Lausanne University as a form of protest against the conflict in Gaza. They called for an halt to scientific collaboration with Israel.

Israeli official: Hamas' war end demand 'thwarting' truce efforts

In another statement within hours, a diplomatic source once more rejects claims that Israel will accept a hostage-for-truce deal with Hamas, which involves Israel committing to end the conflict in Gaza. The source also refutes reports suggesting Israel will agree to mediators providing assurances for ending the war, as cited by the Times of Israel.

Hamas’Osama Hamdan on ongoing truce talks

“We are still talking about the main issues, which are the complete ceasefire and complete withdrawal [of Israel] from Gaza. We hope we can find some positive answers today.”

“Unfortunately, there was a clear statement from Netanyahu saying regardless of any ceasefire or not he’ll continuethe attack against Rafah– which means there will be no ceasefire. Our understanding to achieve a ceasefire means there will be no more attacks anywhere in Gaza, including Rafah.”

“We have to talk about the real position of the United States because that is the main issue that will affect the position of the Israelis, mainly Netanyahu. Guarantees are important, but we need a clear statement that clarifies the positions of each side. Because as we all know, the Israelis are trying every time to get out of their commitments,” Hamdan, a Hamas spokesman, told Al Jazeera over a phone call.

(With inputs from agencies)