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Egypt calls on Israel and Hamas to agree ceasefire Egypt calls on Israel and Hamas to agree ceasefire
(35 minutes later)
Egypt has called for a ceasefire in the week-long conflict between Israel and Hamas, starting with "de-escalation" from 6am on Tuesday, amid growing international concern about bloodshed in Gaza. Egypt has called for a ceasefire in the week-long conflict between Israel and Hamas, starting with "de-escalation" that was due to begin at 6am on Tuesday morning, raising hopes of serious international engagement in the crisis amid growing concern about bloodshed in Gaza.
Israel said its security cabinet was preparing to discuss the Egyptian proposal. Israel said its security cabinet would discuss the Egyptian proposals at a meeting on Tuesday morning.
After a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo, an Egyptian statement suggested a full ceasefire could in place by 6pm on Tuesday, to be followed by separate talks between the two sides and neutral mediators to discuss a longer-term agreement. The move followed signs of increased diplomatic activity aimed at ending the military confrontation, in which at least 173 Palestinians – mostly civilians, according to the UN – have been killed. US secretary of state John Kerry and Middle East envoy Tony Blair are expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday.
The statement, from the Egyptian foreign ministry, called on "Israel and all Palestinian factions to immediately enforce a ceasefire, in view of the fact that escalation and mutual violence … is not in the interest of either party". After a meeting of Arab League foreign ministers in Cairo on Monday evening, Egypt – a key mediator in previous hostilities between Israel and Hamas – suggested a full ceasefire could be in place by 6pm Tuesday, to be followed within 48 hours by separate talks between the two sides and neutral mediators to discuss a longer-term agreement.
Both sides, it said, should stop "hostilities … via land, sea and air". A statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry called on "Israel and all Palestinian factions to immediately enforce a ceasefire, in view of the fact that escalation and mutual violence … is not in the interest of either party."
Israel should refrain from a ground invasion as part of its military offensive, and Palestinian factions in Gaza should refrain from firing rockets, attacks on borders or targeting civilians. Both sides, it said, should stop "hostilities … via land, sea and air". Israel should refrain from a ground invasion as part of its military offensive, and Palestinian factions in Gaza should refrain from firing rockets, attacks on borders or targeting civilians. Crossings should open to allow the movement of people and goods "once the security situation becomes stable on the ground".
Crossings should open to allow the movement of people and goods "once the security situation becomes stable on the ground". Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas's political leader in Gaza, suggested in a televised speech that Hamas could be open to negotiations. "We are at an important stage in struggle against the occupier," he said, reiterating Hamas's demand for the release of its members in Israeli jails, including those arrested in a "recent sweep" in the West Bank.
Earlier, the EU joined calls for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza after a week of intense Israeli military assaults on the Palestinian enclave. But a Hamas official told Agence France Presse that no agreement had been reached despite the Egyptian proposal. "There are efforts and communications on the issue of a truce deal but until now there is nothing final … Efforts are being made by various parties, particularly the Egyptians, but in a weak manner," he said.
The EU said it was in contact with "parties in the region" to press for an immediate ceasefire, as the death toll in Gaza rose to at least 173. Diplomatic sources also cautioned against quick progress towards a ceasefire agreement. "This is going to be much harder to achieve than the 2012 ceasefire. My guess is that there are still some bleak days ahead," said one.
"We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid casualties and to return [to] calm," said EU foreign policy spokeswoman Maja Kocijančič. Others argued that Egypt's initiative was sincere, and a ceasefire inevitable, since neither Hamas nor Israel were seeking a further escalation of the conflict. The government of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi Egypt may also be anxious to prove its worth on the international stage and improve the standing of the Cairo regime.
The calls followed statements from the John Kerry, US secretary of state, and British foreign secretary William Hague urging a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement, reached at the end of the last intense conflict between Israel and Hamas. "Egypt does not want to help Hamas," said Issandr el-Amrani, a Cairo-based analyst and North Africa project director at the Crisis Group. "But it wants to get recognised by the international community for playing its role … Every time there's been [tensions over Gaza] people have been looking for a way of calming down. The question is on what terms."
Kerry spoke by phone to Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, stressing Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Gaza. Earlier on Monday, the European Union joined calls for an end to the bloodshed in Gaza, saying it was in contact with "parties in the region" to press for an immediate ceasefire. "We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid casualties and to return [to] calm," said an EU foreign policy spokeswoman, Maja Kocijančič.
He said the US was concerned about escalating tensions and was ready to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, according to a senior State Department official. Both Kerry and the British foreign secretary, William Hague, urged a return to the November 2012 ceasefire agreement, reached at the end of the last intense conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Kerry was expected to visit Cairo on Tuesday for further discussions about Gaza. Kerry spoke by phone to Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, on Sunday, stressing Israel's right to defend itself against rocket attacks from Gaza. He said the US was concerned about escalating tensions and was ready to facilitate a cessation of hostilities, according to a senior state department official.
In a statement, Hague said he had spoken to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, to express his concerns about civilian casualties and urge a restoration of the November 2012 ceasefire. In a statement, Hague said he had spoken to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Liberman, to express his concerns about civilian casualties and urging a restoration of the November 2012 ceasefire. "It is clear we need urgent concerted international action to secure a ceasefire, as was the case in 2012."
"It is clear we need urgent concerted international action to secure a ceasefire, as was the case in 2012," he said.
Hague told MPs at Westminster on Monday that any ceasefire deal had to be part of a wider effort to improve conditions in Gaza.Hague told MPs at Westminster on Monday that any ceasefire deal had to be part of a wider effort to improve conditions in Gaza.
However, analysts were sceptical about the prospects for an internationally brokered ceasefire in the short term. However, analysts were sceptical about the chances for achieving a ceasefire in the short term. "It's a pretty depressing picture. The Egyptians have been quite happy to see Hamas take a beating, and the US is being cautious and is unwilling to get into a confrontation with Israel," said a western diplomat in Jerusalem.
"It's a pretty depressing picture. The Egyptians have been quite happy to see Hamas take a beating, and the US is being cautious and is unwilling to get into a confrontation with Israel," said a western diplomat in Jerusalem. Egypt, which has historically close ties with Gaza, has been instrumental in the past in persuading Hamas to sign up to ceasefire agreements that Cairo has helped to mediate. But since last year's military coup the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas's ideological parent, has been outlawed and Egyptian attitudes to Gaza have hardened.
Egypt, which has historically close ties with Gaza, has been instrumental in the past in persuading Hamas to sign up to ceasefire agreements that Cairo has helped to mediate. The US has been exasperated by the failure of its intensive efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process over the past year, which was led personally by Kerry. After talks broke down, it warned that the failure could lead to renewed violence.
But after Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who has since been elected president, led last year's military coup, the Muslim Brotherhood – Hamas's ideological parent – has been outlawed and Egyptian attitudes to Gaza have hardened. Blair met Sisi in Cairo at the weekend "to review the latest events on the ground", according to an Egyptian presidential spokesman. But he is seen as close to both Netanyahu and the Egyptian regime, and is unlikely to gain the confidence of Hamas as a peace-broker.
The US has seen no return on its heavy political investment in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process over the past year, which was led personally by Kerry. Netanyahu told his cabinet said on Sunday that the goal of the Israeli military's Operation Protective Shield was "the restoration of quiet for a long period while inflicting a significant blow on Hamas and the other terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip".
Having warned that a failure of negotiations could lead to renewed violence, the US appears unwilling to force an immediate end to the current conflict. It is the same goal as 2012's Operation Pillar of Defence, and 2008-09's Operation Cast Lead: to contain Hamas but not obliterate it. Israel knows that eliminating Hamas, even if possible, could leave a vacuum filled by organisations more militant, more radical and less palatable. "It's a fine calibration between weakening Hamas enough and not weakening it too much. Netanyahu still wants Hamas as the address in Gaza, otherwise there will be chaos and mayhem," said Daniel Levy, the Middle East director of the European Council for Foreign Relations.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair met Sisi in Cairo at the weekend "to review the latest events on the ground", according to an Egyptian presidential spokesman. Hamas – whose leaders are likely to be safe in underground bunkers, unlike the hapless civilians, which has who have nowhere to hide – has said its terms for a ceasefire would include Israel lifting its eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, opening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and releasing Palestinian prisoners Israel rearrested after freeing them in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.
Blair, who is seen as close to both Netanyahu and the Egyptian regime, is unlikely to gain the confidence of Hamas as a peacebroker. According to the western diplomat, Hamas wants to see real change in Gaza in exchange for ending the rocket fire. "The challenge is firstly to define the common ground for a ceasefire, but beyond that to work out how we change the paradigm," he said, referring to easing movement, access and trade restrictions in Gaza, and the restoration of Palestinian Authority control. "But we have to be careful not to be over-ambitious – otherwise we'll just be back here again."
Netanyahu told his cabinet said on Sunday that Israel would continue to act "vigorously to achieve the goal of the operation: the restoration of quiet for a long period while inflicting a significant blow on Hamas and the other terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip". Levy warned that a ceasefire might restore what is known as "quiet", but "that means Israel returns to normality but Gaza returns to being under siege. The fundamentals don't change."
Operation Protective Shield's goal is the same as 2012's Operation Pillar of Defence, and 2008-09's Operation Cast Lead: to contain Hamas but not obliterate it.
Israel knows that eliminating Hamas, even if possible, could leave a vacuum filled by organisations more militant, more radical and less palatable.
"It's a fine calibration between weakening Hamas enough and not weakening it too much. Netanyahu still wants Hamas as the address in Gaza, otherwise there will be chaos and mayhem," said Daniel Levy, the Middle East director of the European Council for Foreign Relations.
Hamas – whose leaders are likely to be safe in underground bunkers, unlike the hapless civilians, who have nowhere to hide – may be more open to ceasefire proposals.
Mushir al-Masri, a Hamas politician, told AFP on Monday that its terms included Israel lifting its eight-year blockade on the Gaza Strip, opening the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and releasing Palestinian prisoners Israel rearrested after freeing them in exchange for the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.
According to the western diplomat, Hamas wants to see real change in Gaza in exchange for ending the rocket fire.
"The challenge is firstly to define the common ground for a ceasefire, but beyond that to work out how we change the paradigm," he said, referring to easing movement, access and trade restrictions in Gaza, and the restoration of Palestinian Authority control.
"But we have to be careful not to be over-ambitious – otherwise we'll just be back here again."
Levy predicted that Israel could wind down its offensive in the coming days, having calculated it had achieved as much as it could without a ground offensive and toppling Hamas.
Following the end of its operation, the situation would return to what is known as "quiet", he said.
"That means Israel returns to normality but Gaza returns to being under siege. The fundamentals don't change."