Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Israel-Hamas Negotiations Begin as Truce Threatens to Unravel
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Negotiations between Israel and Hamas on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire began in Cairo Thursday amid mounting concerns the truce will collapse.
Thursday’s talks in Egypt’s capital came on the day that a well-informed Israeli source revealed that “Israel does not intend” to withdraw from a strategic corridor in Gaza in the coming days.
Under the terms of the deal, Israel was due to start pulling its soldiers out of the Philadelphi Corridor, an 8.6-mile-wide (14 kilometers) strip of land by Gaza’s border with Egypt, on Saturday.
The unnamed Israeli official said on Thursday that the Jewish nation’s army would remain there to prevent weapons smuggling by Hamas, despite objections from Hamas and Egypt.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, suggested Israel’s military presence remains necessary there as he recently saw smuggling tunnels there. However, Egypt claims it destroyed such tunnels years ago and that it has prevented smuggling through a military buffer zone.
Hamas has said any Israeli attempt to stay in the corridor would be a “blatant violation” of a ceasefire agreement, which took hold in January.
However, both sides still showed readiness to adhere to other terms of the ceasefire, with Hamas releasing the remains of four hostages in exchange for over 600 Palestinian prisoners.
DOZENS REMAINING
According to Israel, there are 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, 24 of whom are still believed to be alive.
At Thursday’s talks, officials from Israel, Qatar, and the United States started “intensive discussions” on the ceasefire’s second phase in Cairo, Egypt‘s state information service said.
Observers said it would be difficult to reconcile a deal with the war objectives of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has called for dismantling Hamas’ governing and military capabilities.
Despite suffering heavy losses in the war, Hamas has still emerged as a force during the ceasefire, and the group says it will not give up its weapons.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit the region in the coming days.
He seeks to help end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people, including many Hamas fighters as well as civilians used as human shields by the group, officials say.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
Anti-immigration and local parties made gains in municipal elections in the Netherlands, where concerns over rising migration from mainly Islamic countries, the financial impact of climate policies, and increased defense spending have dominated national and local debates.
Israel signaled Thursday it would refrain from further attacks on energy infrastructure after a strike on Iran’s vast South Pars natural gas field triggered retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, sending oil and natural gas prices sharply higher and raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
European Union leaders condemned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s decision on Thursday to block a 90 billion euro ($98 billion) loan for Ukraine, linking his stance to a dispute with Kyiv over Russian oil supplies.
Families and friends of scores of Christians held in Iranian prisons have requested prayers as “concerns for their well-being grow and communication has all but ceased” amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, Christians told Worthy News Thursday.
As a marathon debate over the SAVE America Act continues in the U.S. Senate, Republicans and Democrats are sparring over whether the voter ID bill would strengthen election security or discourage potential voters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Thursday that Iran has lost its ability to enrich uranium and manufacture ballistic missiles following nearly three weeks of coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.
Israel dramatically expanded its military campaign against Iran, striking Iranian Navy targets in the Caspian Sea for the first time since the launch of “Operation Roaring Lion,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed Thursday.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com