A crucial round of high-level talks in Cairo, aimed at reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal to temporarily halt the 10-month-long Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, concluded on Sunday without a final agreement, according to a U.S. official.
Despite the absence of a conclusive deal, discussions are set to continue at lower levels in the coming days as mediators work to bridge the remaining gaps between the parties involved.
Constructive Dialogue, Yet No Final Agreement
The talks, which took place from Thursday to Sunday, were described as constructive by a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The discussions involved top intelligence officials, including CIA Director William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
Although a Hamas delegation was not directly involved in the negotiations, they were kept informed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Despite the progress made, the official indicated that several key disagreements remain unresolved. To address these, lower-level working teams from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt will remain in Cairo, continuing efforts to reach a final, implementable agreement.
Hezbollah-Israel Tensions Flare Amid Talks
As the Cairo talks unfolded, tensions escalated on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. Early Sunday, Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah engaged in a heavy exchange of fire, sparking fears of a broader conflict. However, both sides eventually stepped back from the brink, signaling that their most intense exchange in months was over.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting an Israeli military intelligence site near Tel Aviv with a barrage of hundreds of rockets and drones. In response, Israel launched dozens of preemptive strikes, claiming that these were necessary to avert a larger attack. Neither side provided concrete evidence to support their claims.
Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, stated that the attack was a delayed response to Israel’s killing of a top militant commander in Beirut the previous month.
He explained that the delay was intended to give the Gaza ceasefire talks a chance and to allow fellow Iran-backed groups to consult with Iran on whether to launch a coordinated attack on Israel.
Nasrallah also hinted at the involvement of allied Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran itself, suggesting that their responses were still forthcoming.
Casualties and Ongoing Military Posturing
Despite the exchange of fire, both Israel and Hezbollah claimed that their strikes targeted only military objectives. According to Israel, no military targets were hit by Hezbollah, although one of its navy soldiers was killed, and two others were wounded—either by an interceptor for incoming fire or by shrapnel.
On the other side, Hezbollah reported that two of its fighters were killed, along with a militant from an allied group. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the Israeli military had successfully eliminated thousands of rockets aimed at northern Israel and shot down drones heading towards the country’s central regions.
“This is not the end of the story,” Netanyahu remarked, underscoring the ongoing volatility and the potential for further conflict despite the recent exchanges.
As the Cairo talks adjourned without a final agreement, the region remains on edge. The continued diplomatic efforts reflect the urgency and complexity of the situation, with hopes that the ongoing lower-level discussions can bridge the remaining gaps.
However, the recent flare-up between Israel and Hezbollah serves as a stark reminder of the fragile state of peace in the region, with both sides remaining prepared for further conflict. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the negotiations can yield a breakthrough or if the cycle of violence will continue.
