The Israeli attack with 12 victims in Rafah, on the day the US sent humanitarian aid, has forced Hamas to sit down for talks. International media emphasize that representatives of Hamas, Qatar and the United States are in Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza.
A senior Hamas official was quoted as saying that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is possible "within 24-48 hours" if Israel accepts the demands of the Palestinian Islamic movement.
"If Israel accepts Hamas's demands, which include the return of Palestinians displaced to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid, it could pave the way for an agreement," the statement quoted the Hamas representative as saying.
The total death toll in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on October 7 has risen to 30,410. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a major military offensive after the militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
