Israel reported to boycott ceasefire talks in Cairo after Hamas rejects demand for hostage list
- Hamas delegation on Sunday arrived in Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt fighting for 6 weeks
- By early evening there was no sign of the Israelis. Israeli media had reported that Israelis would not attend without a list of surviving hostages
A Hamas delegation arrived in the capital Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt the fighting for six weeks. But by early evening there was no sign of the Israelis.
“There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo,” Ynet, the online version of Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted unidentified Israeli officials as saying. “Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation.”
After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was “not yet there”. From the Israeli side, there was no official comment.
One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented its full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters Hamas had so far rejected that demand.
In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the well-being of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.
