Efforts are continuing for a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip despite the fact that yesterday’s visit by the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, did not bear fruit.

The US has said “very serious” negotiations are underway for a new ceasefire in Gaza and the release of more Israeli hostages, but prospects for a deal remain uncertain as Hamas insists it will discuss nothing less than a complete end to Israel’s assault on Palestinian enclave.

The Hamas leader visited Egypt on Wednesday for the first time in nearly a month to hold talks with Egyptian officials seeking to broker a new truce.

A source briefed on the negotiations said the envoys discussed intensively which of the hostages still being held by Palestinian Islamist militants in Gaza could be freed if there is a new truce and which Palestinian prisoners Israel could release in return.

Islamic Jihad, a smaller Palestinian militant group also holding hostages in Gaza, said its leader would visit Egypt in the coming days to discuss a possible end to the conflict.

“These are very serious discussions and negotiations, and we hope they lead somewhere,” White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One on Wednesday.

However, Taher al-Nono, a media adviser to Haniya, told Reuters that Hamas was unwilling to discuss releasing more Israeli hostages until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza and the volume of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians increases. civilians.

New vote in the UN Security Council

At the same time, it is expected that later today there will be another attempt by the UN Security Council in order to have a resolution requesting the suspension of the fighting in Gaza.

The United Arab Emirates, which drafted the draft resolution, said yesterday that discussions were continuing at the highest levels. The country’s ambassador to the UN, Lana Nuseibe, said Wednesday that the goal was to have a resolution with impact.

Asked whether the US would again veto the resolution, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said they were working to ensure aid going into Gaza was not complicated by any efforts at the UN.