A delegation from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) arrives in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, today, Friday, to present its observations on the Egyptian initiative, which stipulates a ceasefire that ends the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
The Hamas delegation’s visit comes amid the movement’s confirmation of its rejection of any deal that does not lead to an end to the aggression, and increasing internal pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resolve the prisoner issue.
A Hamas official told Agence France-Presse that the resistance factions have a number of points and observations regarding the exchange of prisoners, the number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for their release, and guarantees of complete military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian initiative was presented last week to officials from the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements during visits by leaders from the two movements to Cairo.
Egypt proposal
The Egyptian initiative includes three stages that stipulate extendable truces and the gradual release of dozens of detainees held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel, which ultimately leads to a cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip.
The initiative also stipulates the formation of a Palestinian government composed of technocrats after a dialogue in which all Palestinian factions participate, and which will be responsible for governing and rebuilding the Gaza Strip after the war.
In Cairo, the head of the State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, confirmed in a statement yesterday, Thursday, that Egypt had put forward a framework for a proposal to try to bring viewpoints closer between all concerned parties, in an effort to stop Palestinian bloodshed, stop the aggression against Gaza, and restore peace and stability to the region, according to what he said.
He added, “Egypt confirms that it has not yet received any responses to the proposed framework from any of the concerned parties,” and that “when responses are received from the concerned parties, the proposal will be elaborated in detail, and it will be announced in full to Egyptian, Arab, and international public opinion.”
It is noteworthy that Jordanian King Abdullah II visited Cairo the day before yesterday, Wednesday, to discuss the agreements reached at the Cairo meetings after the visit of the delegations of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements, the Palestinian Authority, as well as the Israeli delegation, within the framework of the intense regional movement to end the Gaza war.
No details from Israel
On the other hand, Netanyahu said during a meeting with the families of Israeli prisoners that Israel is in contact regarding negotiations to return prisoners from Gaza, but he cannot reveal the details.
Netanyahu had previously said that military pressure in the Gaza Strip is a strength in negotiations to release prisoners, according to his statements.
About two weeks ago, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani met with the head of the Israeli Mossad, David Barnea, to discuss resuming negotiations to reach an end to the war.
For his part, the US envoy for detainee affairs, Roger Carstens, said that Qatar plays a strong and important role as a mediator, stressing that it has been able to exert its weight in the region.
He added that they are working to recover all detainees, including the remains of those who died in Gaza.
Israeli protests
This comes as protests are increasing in Tel Aviv to demand a deal that releases all those detained by the Hamas movement, as a march was launched yesterday in which thousands participated on its way to the headquarters of the Israeli government in Jerusalem.
The Forum for Mothers of Israeli Army Soldiers also sent a formal letter to Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, asking him for clarifications regarding the reports that the Israeli Army changed the pattern of its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, and what was reported that this change now threatens the lives of soldiers in battle.