Cairo (agencies)
A high-ranking Egyptian source reported that there is noticeable progress in the Cairo negotiations, adding that the Egyptian security delegation is moving to reach a consensus formula on many points of disagreement, and that the results will be different each time, according to media reports, while a Palestinian official familiar with the efforts expressed… Mediation is cautiously optimistic.
Yesterday, a delegation of Palestinian factions arrived in Cairo to resume ceasefire talks in Gaza in light of an Israeli threat to launch a ground attack on the city of Rafah, despite warnings from Washington and the United Nations.
Mediation efforts led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States continue, seeking to reach a truce and release Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
A Palestinian official familiar with the mediation efforts expressed cautious optimism. The official, who requested to remain anonymous, said: “Things look better this time, but whether there is an agreement soon depends on whether Israel provides what is required to achieve this.”
Earlier, the factions confirmed that they are studying the latest proposal in a “positive spirit,” while adhering to their most important demands at this stage, which is that the truce be established into a comprehensive ceasefire that puts an end to the war.
She explained in a statement the day before yesterday, “We are determined to mature the agreement, in a way that fulfills the demands of our people to stop the aggression completely, withdraw the occupation forces, return the displaced, provide relief to our people, begin reconstruction, and complete a serious exchange deal.”
In addition, an official stated that the Cairo discussions will be held in the presence of all delegations, Qatari, Egyptian and American, adding: “If matters develop, the Israeli delegation will be brought in a separate hall, to try to complete the agreement,” stressing that the Palestinian factions are looking with an open mind at the changes in the position of the Israeli side and the American position. But there are matters that must be tightened.
For his part, a senior Israeli official said that sending an Israeli delegation to the Egyptian capital depends on seeing a positive development regarding the framework of the hostage deal. He stated that what we are discussing is an agreement on a framework for a possible hostage deal, anticipating difficult and long negotiations in order to reach an actual agreement.
He continued: “If we send a delegation led by the head of the Mossad to Cairo, this will be an indication of a positive development regarding the framework of work.”
For its part, Washington, whose CIA intelligence agency director, William Burns, arrived in Cairo the day before yesterday, is pushing the Palestinian factions to accept the proposal, which US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken considered “very generous” from Israel.
Regarding the Rafah operation, Blinken said that Israel “did not present a credible plan to ensure real protection for Palestinian civilians in Rafah,” adding, “In the absence of such a plan, we cannot support a major military operation in Rafah because the damage it will cause exceeds the limits of what is acceptable.”
Blinken’s statements come two days after he held a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli officials on his last tour to the Middle East.
The administration of President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned Israel against implementing its plan in Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians have taken refuge to escape the war, unless it has a plan to protect civilians.
Before his meeting with Blinken, Netanyahu confirmed his intention to move forward with his plan to launch a ground attack on Rafah, the crowded city located in the far south of the Strip, whatever the outcome of the ongoing talks in order to reach a ceasefire agreement and release the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
The mediation countries have been waiting for about a week for a response from the Palestinian factions to the proposal presented by Israel at the end of April, which includes a 40-day ceasefire and the exchange of dozens of hostages who were kidnapped from southern Israel, for a number of Palestinian detainees in Israel.
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