According to the latest reports by the Egyptian media, a Cairo meeting was recently convened to consider the reprisal of truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The negotiations are coming after several rounds of gain-and-loss punching that have resulted in both sides suffering terribly from heavy casualties and widespread demolitions.
Egypt, the traditional negotiator of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is steadfastly trying to be the one whose role is to achieve a truce and restore peace in the region. The revival of talks in Cairo gives an inkling regarding the possibility of finding a solution to this long-keeping conflict.
The actual conflict started when the tensions in Jerusalem and the incidents of forced eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah attracted the attention of international media. Finally, it evolved into an all-scale military confrontation. It is a fact that Israel and Hamas are perpetually firing rockets and that this back and forth has claimed so many innocent lives and brought so much misery to civilians.
The international community has been expressing concern for the immediate cessation of hostilities, with admonitions for de-escalation of the conflict and ensuring the safety of the civilians. The United Nations, with heads of state of several countries, has exercised diplomacy to stem the fighting and reach a comprehensive ceasefire agreement.
As the talks begin anew in Cairo, we look on with reservation, hoping that negotiations lead to a settlement that eventually ends bloodshed and paves the way to a lasting peace in this area. The road to the final solution of this problem is full of hurdles, yet this meeting reinvigorates the hope that in the end, peace will be established.
