Progress in ceasefire talks not expected till post-US election: CNN
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According to an insider, another round of negotiations is likely in the coming days.
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Palestinians gather in a morgue with the bodies of their relatives killed by Israeli airstrikes in the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on October 25, 2024. (AP)
Ceasefire discussions between the Palestinian resistance Hamas, and Israeli negotiations are not expected to make "significant progress" until after the US elections, a source briefed on the talks told CNN.
The source told CNN that the most recent round of discussions, which began on Sunday in the Qatari capital of Doha, was not aimed at negotiating a captive release or ceasefire agreement but rather at sparking the process.
The conversations also touched on the war on Lebanon and the situation with Iran.
According to the insider, another round of negotiations is likely in the coming days.
Resistance maintains ceasefire conditions, warns of 'deceptive calm'
The Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Jamil Mezher, addressing US efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, stated, "The US administration's efforts are focused on achieving a deceptive calm that serves its electoral interests."
Consequently, Mezher stressed that the PFLP "categorically rejects any attempt to conclude a temporary truce based on Zionist and American conditions aimed at cooling off the situation in conjunction with the elections."
However, Mezher clarified, "We deal very positively with any ideas that lead to the complete cessation of aggression and a full withdrawal of the occupation forces."
PIJ: No official negotiation updates received
On his part, Mohammad al-Hajj Musa, the spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, told Al Mayadeen, "We, the Palestinian Resistance, have not received anything official about the negotiations."
He also commented on the current political landscape, noting that the American administration is attempting to garner support from Arabs and Muslims by claiming its intention to halt the war, as it once obtained the votes of the Jewish community "through the unlimited support for the occupation entity."
He added, "We will not give up any of the conditions we agreed to in Biden’s proposal," given that the Palestinian Resistance seeks to make the Israeli occupation "pay a price" in exchange for the release of captives, specifying that "this price is a complete ceasefire and full withdrawal."
Al-Hajj Musa highlighted that "the primary goal of this war is the displacement of the Palestinian people, and we cannot give up the captives' leverage only to see the aggression resume." He emphasized the importance of a comprehensive agreement, saying, "We want an agreement that ensures a ceasefire. Our doors are open to finalize an agreement, but it must adhere to the conditions we have set."
He further affirmed that the Resistance brigades formed by the al-Quds Brigades in the West Bank will persist in challenging the actions of Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, emphasizing the continued resistance in the region.
Hamas demands 'comprehensive deal'
In a statement to Al Mayadeen, senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi articulated the group’s stance on the ongoing negotiations, emphasizing that the Resistance's demands for a ceasefire, withdrawal from Gaza, and humanitarian relief must be acknowledged before discussing the issue of captives.
Mardawi stated, in response to the "two-day ceasefire" proposal made by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, "We demand a comprehensive and clear deal, and we will not accept the fragmentation of the basic document."
He further expressed the group's anticipation of the results from the Doha meeting, indicating that Hamas is awaiting concrete outputs from these discussions. Mardawi concluded by asserting, "If the enemy does not announce its approval of the proposal, we will not approve of it in advance."
