CIA Director William Burns heads to Israel today, Wednesday, and this coincides with American optimism about the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, while the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) warned that the current round may be ” “last chance” to reach an agreement.
Reuters quoted an informed source that Burns will hold talks in Israel with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.
Burns arrives in Israel from Cairo, which is hosting indirect meetings between representatives of Hamas and Israel under the supervision of mediators in Qatar, Egypt and the United States.
An American official confirmed that the mediators in Cairo are trying to resolve various disputes regarding the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner and detainee exchange deal. The official – who spoke to the American NBC network without revealing his identity – considered that the continuation of the negotiation “is considered a positive matter,” but stressed that “It is too early to be optimistic.”
Narrowing the gaps
For his part, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told Tel Aviv Tribune that Hamas presented additional demands in its response to the ceasefire proposal, and explained that the United States made clear to all parties that it wants to see an agreement concluded as soon as possible.
In turn, White House Strategic Communications Advisor John Kirby said that the White House is optimistic about the possibility of narrowing the gaps between Hamas and Israel, andHe added that the Israelis are negotiating in good faith.
Kirby stressed that the gaps in the amended formula approved by Hamas can be filled, But he stressed that he could not predict the time frame for reaching a final agreement, and expressed his hope that this would happen soon.
The Hamas movement had warned Israel that the current Cairo negotiations would be “the last chance,” and a Hamas official – who preferred to remain anonymous – said, “This is the last chance for Netanyahu and the families of the Zionist prisoners to return their sons, or their fate will be the same as the pilot Ron Arad,” who was shot down. His plane over Lebanon in 1986, and his fate remains unknown.
On a related level, Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said – during a press conference – that the movement’s delegation went to Cairo to confirm the continuation of the political process to bind Israel to the agreement and its implementation, stressing that “the ball is now in the court of Netanyahu and the pillars of his extremist government.”
Hamdan added, “Our approval of the mediators’ proposal in exchange for the Netanyahu government’s maneuver puts the American administration in front of a clear entitlement,” stressing that the American administration must “prove its seriousness and credibility in binding Netanyahu to the agreement.”
Israel’s position
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the proposal that Hamas announced its approval the day before Monday was far from the basic demands of Israel.
Netanyahu stressed that Israel will not allow Hamas to rebuild its military capabilities or restore rule in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Army Radio said that the Israeli negotiating delegation arrived in Egypt to continue the discussions, without further details.
While Haaretz newspaper reported that the Israeli delegation includes members of the army, the Israeli intelligence service (Mossad), and the General Security Service (Shin Bet), without the participation of leaders from these bodies.
The newspaper “Israel Today” quoted an official as saying, “We will verify in Cairo whether what Hamas agreed to obliges us to a ceasefire in the first stage.”