Members of the Israeli army work at a staging space close to the border of Gaza throughout a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in November.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Members of the Israeli army work at a staging space close to the border of Gaza throughout a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in November.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

TEL AVIV, Israel — Officials from Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the U.S. are assembly in Cairo for negotiations round a second cease-fire in Gaza and the discharge of hostages being held by Hamas.

The talks within the Egyptian capital on Tuesday have been anticipated to middle on a plan that will pause the combating in Gaza for as much as six weeks, and clear the best way for one more trade of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages.

The high-stakes assembly is happening as Israel alerts it could quickly launch a floor invasion in Rafah, on the southern tip of Gaza, the place practically 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.

On Monday, the Israeli army stated particular forces rescued two hostages from a fancy in Rafah, however Gaza well being officers stated the raid resulted within the deaths of no less than 74 folks.

Rafah is on Gaza’s border with Egypt, which has threatened to droop its peace treaty with Israel within the occasion of a significant offensive on Rafah.

Regional de-escalation

Among the U.S. officers who have been anticipated in Cairo for Tuesday’s negotiations was C.I.A. director William J. Burns. Since the beginning of the struggle, the U.S. has dispatched a number of high-level envoys to the area in hopes of securing a diplomatic breakthrough, however these efforts have confirmed an uphill climb.

Speaking from the White House on Monday, President Biden stated key components of a plan have been “on the table,” however stated “gaps remain” as he inspired events to maintain working towards a deal.

Biden reiterated his assist for Israel within the wake of the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas militants that killed 1,200 folks. Some 134 hostages are nonetheless being held by Hamas, with the general public outcry to deliver them dwelling placing increasing pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

At the identical time, Biden additionally spoke extra extensively concerning the “unimaginable pain and loss” by civilians in Gaza. More than 28,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive into the territory, in accordance with well being officers in Gaza. And with the struggle coming into its fifth month, the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza is dire, with widespread experiences of shortages of meals, clear water and medical provides.

Biden has emphasised that Israel mustn’t proceed with a army operation in Rafah with out a “credible plan” for the protection of the greater than 1 million folks sheltering there.

An earlier cease-fire in November, which was mediated by Qatar, resulted within the launch of fifty hostages from Gaza in trade for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. It additionally allowed for some humanitarian support to enter Gaza, which had been primarily blocked off from support since Oct.7.

The cease-fire was initially negotiated for 4 days however was twice prolonged.

Hamas, which was not anticipated to attend the negotiations in Cairo, rejected an Israeli proposal earlier this month as a result of it didn’t embody the entire withdrawal of Israeli troops. Prime Minister Netanyahu final week rejected the counter provide, which would depart Hamas accountable for the Gaza Strip as “delusional.”