ANDgypt will send this Saturday an updated proposal of the truce agreement to the Palestinian group Hamas after an Egyptian delegation held talks with the Israeli and American delegations in Cairo, which have taken place in a “positive atmosphere,” he said on Friday to Efe an Egyptian fountain.
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The Israeli delegation left the Egyptian capital after arriving on Thursday with the American delegation, after a round of “intense conversations” in which there was “success in bringing together” divergent positionsaccording to the Egyptian source familiar with the conversations, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The purpose of these talks is to carry out “efficient and rapid” negotiations, which are expected to start on Sunday in Cairowhich all parties are expected to attend, although doubts remain over Hamas’s participation.
Proposals from Israel and Egypt regarding the Philadelphia corridor and the Rafah crossing
During the dialogue on Friday, the Israeli delegation presented to Egypt the updated proposals regarding the Israeli Army presence in the Philadelphia corridor -which connects Gaza with Egypt- and the Rafah border crossing, closed since last May when Israel invaded the border town with Egypt and captured the Palestinian side of the crossing.
The mediating countries – the United States, Egypt and Qatar – “are continuing preparations for Sunday’s meeting, but it is not yet clear whether Hamas will attend this meeting.”
The source said that annexes and points related to the Israeli hostage-for-prisoner deal have also been prepared, but did not provide further details.
The source also did not provide further information on Israel’s proposal regarding the Philadelphia corridor, in which Israel has advocated maintaining a presence, while Egypt has rejected it and insisted on a complete withdrawal from the corridor, which it has controlled since 2005.
Next steps and Hamas’ possible participation in Sunday’s negotiations
Meanwhile, the mediating countries –United States, Egypt and Qatar– “Preparations for Sunday’s meeting are continuing, but it is not yet clear whether Hamas will attend this meeting,” the source said.
At last week’s Doha talks, which produced a US proposal rejected by Hamas, the Palestinian group did not attend because it clung to the fact that it had already accepted a text announced by the US president, Joe Bidenand that the new one responded to the demands of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuwhich has insisted on its refusal to call for a definitive ceasefire and to fully withdraw from Gaza.
The Israeli side was represented by the head of the foreign intelligence service (Mossad), David Barnea, the head of the Shin Bet (domestic intelligence service), Ronen Bar, and the head of the strategic division of the Israeli army, Eliezer Toledano.
On the other hand, the American one was headed by Brett McGurk, Biden’s main advisor for Middle East; and the Egyptian one was led by intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
The Egyptian source also said that CIA chief Bill Burns is expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday evening, while the identity of the Qatari official who will come to the Egyptian capital to lead the delegation from the country hosting Hamas’s political bureau is unknown.
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