Just a few days before Ramazan, Palestinian group Hamas quit the Gaza truce negotiations in Cairo, saying there was no indication of progress. The US stated that the Palestinian organization had to reach a settlement over the Israeli hostages, according to Reuters.
Following four days of negotiations facilitated by Qatar and Egypt for a 40-day ceasefire, Israel and Hamas held each other responsible for the lack of agreement amid fears the violence could escalate during the holy month.
According to Egyptian security officials, discussions will be restored on Sunday, the anticipated start of Ramazan, in Cairo, without the presence of an Israeli delegation.
Senior US government officials stated that Hamas had the responsibility to finalize a hostage agreement and blamed the hold-up on the group's alleged refusal to release sick and elderly hostages so far.
According to a Hamas official who spoke to Reuters, such remarks were deceptive, and that the US and Israel were allies. Hamas has demanded that any agreement on a ceasefire include steps towards putting an end to the conflict completely.
Hamas said earlier in a statement that the delegation left Cairo to speak to the movement's leaders, "with negotiations and efforts continuing to stop the aggression, return the displaced and bring in relief aid to our people."
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters that Israel has been "thwarting" attempts to reach a ceasefire agreement.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his plan to continue the military assault in Gaza, which was started in response to Hamas' offensive on southern Israel on October 7.
Israel has stated in the past that any ceasefire must only last temporarily and that its goal is to destroy Hamas. Additionally, it has demanded a list of all the captives that Hamas is still holding alive in Gaza.
David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, stated: "Needless to say, Israel will do whatever it takes to release our hostages... unfortunately, it is Hamas who is the stumbling block right now by not telling us who is alive and who they have in their custody,"
Hamas was required to release some hostages it's still holding as part of the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza. Additionally, Israeli-held Palestinian prisoners would also be released.
"DESPAIR"
According to Hamas authorities, a ceasefire is necessary before the hostages are released, Israeli forces must withdraw from Gaza, and all Gazans are allowed to return to the houses they have left.
Given that the prisoners are dispersed around the combat zone, Hamas has stated that it is unable to provide a list of those who are still alive without a cease-fire.
With five months of fighting under its belt and a severe humanitarian catastrophe, Gaza was in profound despair when word spread that the Hamas delegation had departed Cairo without reaching a deal.
"I feel great disappointment and despair, fear too," Abir said. She and her family of twelve have fled to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where over half of the 2.3 million residents of the enclave are currently seeking protection.
When desperate Palestinians surrounded a relief truck last week, Israeli fire at the same location killed 118 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by Hamas. According to Israel, the majority of the dead were run over or crushed.
According to US authorities, President Joe Biden is scheduled to declare that the US military will build a port on Gaza's Mediterranean port so that relief supplies may be sent there by boat.
According to a White House official, the port will enable the entry of supplies equal to hundreds of truckloads, even if the setup would take weeks.
Food and other goods were airdropped into the northern part of the enclave on Thursday by the US Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force. According to UN organizations, an important portion of the population is in danger of starvation.
Netanyahu vowed to continue Israel's attack, extending its reach into Rafah.
He said "Whoever tells us not to act in Rafah is telling us to lose the war and that will not happen,"
Hamas calls for visit to Al Aqsa Mosque
According to Gaza's health officials, the official death toll from Israel's war has surpassed 30,800. According to witnesses, Israeli shelling in Khan Younis, Rafah, and downtown Gaza has persisted, and there have been 83 deaths in the last 24 hours.
To put further pressure on Israel to "agree to demands for a ceasefire," Hamas repeated on Thursday its appeal for Palestinians living in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and inside Israel to increase the number of times they visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan.
Concerns that the Jerusalem mosque complex, the third-holiest site in Islam, may turn into an area of violence during the month-long fast are one of the reasons negotiators are working for an agreement ahead of Ramadan.
