Egyptian mediators made progress on Sunday toward a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, three officials briefed on the talks said, sparking hope. that the latest outbreak of hostilities could end as early as Monday.
On Sunday night, Arab media outlets cited IS statements from Islam saying the group had agreed to a truce, but there was no confirmation from Israeli or Egyptian mediators. Other Arab and Israeli media had earlier reported that the talks had stalled.
Israeli officials have signaled to the mediators that they are willing to reduce air strikes after achieving key military goals, including the killing of two of the organization’s top military commanders. Islamic Jihad, Israel’s main rival in this skirmish, the two officials spoke briefly about the negotiations. Both are Western diplomats who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
Some of the remaining leaders of the Islamic Jihad also feel they have little benefit from continuing to fight, diplomats added, especially given the calm in Jerusalem on Sunday. despite militant calls for Palestinians in the city to protest at one of the city’s holiest sites.
A third official briefed on the mediation effort, who also requested anonymity for the same reason, confirmed that it was gaining momentum but declined to comment on the two sides’ motives. The Israeli military also said it would cease fire if Islamic Jihad did so first. The Israeli prime minister’s office declined to comment and could not be immediately reached by a spokesman for Islamic Jihad.
One of the Western diplomats said the main remaining obstacle to the ceasefire was disagreement among the remaining leaders of the jihadist organization over its timing. Some hardliners want the group to continue fighting for a few more days to inflict further damage on Israel and possibly draw Hamas, the main militia in Gaza, into the conflict, the diplomat said.
Hamas, which gained control of the strip in 2007, often fights Israel but is reluctant to participate in the current round. The team is still rebuilding its arsenal and military infrastructure after a big fight last yearand they did not want to jeopardize some of the economic concessions Israel made to Gaza afterward.
But the longer the current fighting drags on, the greater the pressure on Hamas to offer military support to the jihadist group – a decision that will almost certainly prolong the duration and intensity of the conflict. conflict.
While negotiations continued on Sunday, the situation remained volatile. Palestinian gunmen continued to fire rockets, albeit at shorter ranges, into Israeli territory along the edge of the Gaza border. The Israeli military said it was continuing to attack Islamic Jihad rocket launch sites.
Egypt often emerges as an important broker between Israelis and Palestinians, especially in conflicts with militias in Gaza, such as the Islamic Jihad, which have no direct ties to Israel. Israel.
As the southern neighbor of both Gaza and Israel, Egypt has a strategic interest in restoring peace to the territory. And as the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel and a major gateway for Palestinian commerce and travel, the country is also seen as a mediator.
