Gaza ceasefire talks deadlocked

Talks on a ceasefire and hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas were deadlocked on Wednesday, as the humanitarian crisis in Hamas-run Gaza prompted growing Western concern.

Negotiators from the Palestinian militants, Qatar and Egypt — but not Israel — are trying to secure a 40-day ceasefire in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins early next week.

Urging Hamas to accept the terms on the table, US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that ally Israel was cooperating and "a rational offer" had been made for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages.

Hamas pledged to continue to take part in the Cairo talks, but officials in the militant group said a ceasefire must be in place before hostages are freed, Israeli forces must leave Gaza and all Gazans must be able to return to homes they have fled.

"We are showing the required flexibility in order to reach a comprehensive cessation of aggression against our people, but the occupation is still evading the entitlements of this agreement," Hamas said in a statement.

A source had earlier said Israel was staying away from the Cairo talks because Hamas refused to provide a list of hostages who are still alive. Hamas says this is impossible without a ceasefire as hostages are scattered across the war zone.

Israeli forces, which began their offensive in Gaza after the deadly Hamas raid on Israel on Oct. 7, have continued bombarding the Palestinian enclave since the talks began in Cairo on Sunday, and the dire humanitarian situation in the densely populated coastal strip has deteriorated further.

A Palestinian woman reacts next to a wounded man at Nasser hospital following Israeli strikes. Reuters

"Every day costs us dozens of martyrs. We want a ceasefire now," Shaban Abdel-Raouf, a Palestinian electrician and father of five from Gaza City, who is now in southern Khan Younis, told Reuters via a chat app.

Health officials in Gaza said the number of people confirmed killed in Israel's offensive had now passed 30,700. It reported 86 deaths in the past 24 hours and witnesses said the Israeli bombardments continued in Khan Younis, the southern city of Rafah and areas in central Gaza.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said he had spoken with Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz on Wednesday about Israel's duty to provide aid to Gaza and Britain's concern at the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah.

"I made clear the steps Israel must take to increase aid into Gaza, and the UK's deep concern about the prospect of a military offensive in Rafah," Cameron said. "These are tough but necessary conversations."

Reuters