Negotiations Continued Today, The US Is Optimistic That The Difference Between Hamas And Israel Regarding Ceasefires Can Be Bridged

The Israeli military in the Gaza Strip. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The United States believes that the differences of opinion between Israel and Hamas can be bridged through negotiations regarding the latest ceasefire proposal, when negotiations resumed in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday.

In Cairo, the five delegates who participated in the ceasefire negotiations on Tuesday Hamas, Israel, US, Egypt and Qatar reacted positively to the resumption of the negotiations, and the meeting is expected to resume on Wednesday morning local time, two Egyptian sources said.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Hamas submitted a revised proposal, and the new text showed a gap that could still be "completely closed" despite refusing to elaborate.

Israel on Monday stated that the three-phase proposals approved by Hamas were unacceptable, because the requirements had been softened. Tonight, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a counterterrorism operation in Rafah.

Israeli forces on Tuesday seized the main border between Gaza and Egypt in Rafah, the southern Gaza city of which more than one million Palestinian refugees sought refuge during the seven-month Israeli attack. This cut off the important path of aid to the enclave.

Hamas had warned that if Isrfael continued his aggression in Rafah, there would be no ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, CIA Director Bill Burns, who traveled from Cairo to Isrfael, will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and other top Israeli officials today, amid intensive efforts to reach a hostage-taking deal with Hamas, an Israeli source told The Times of Israel.

It is known that since the only pause in conflict so far, a week-long ceasefire in November, both sides have been hindered by Hamas' refusal to release more Israeli hostages without a promise to end the conflict permanently, while Israel remains with its desire only to discuss a temporary ceasefire.