7/5/2024–|Last updated: 5/8/202412:03 AM (Mecca time)
There were reports of Egyptian anger at Israel for not signing the prisoner exchange agreement that Cairo worked on, and while the White House called for reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, truce talks continued in the presence of delegations from Doha, Washington, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel.
The Financial Times quoted an Israeli official as saying that Egypt is angry with Israel because it did not sign the agreement that Cairo worked on. The newspaper also quoted a well-informed diplomat that the proposal approved by Hamas was similar to a proposal supported by Israel earlier.
On the other hand, the White House said that reaching a deal, releasing detainees, and bringing aid into Gaza is a priority for President Joe Biden. The White House stressed that “the two parties should reach a ceasefire agreement.”
Strategic Policy Coordinator at the US National Security Council, John Kirby, said that the White House is optimistic about the possibility of narrowing the gaps between Hamas and Israel.
He revealed that the reason for his optimism about the possibility of the two parties bridging gaps is what the negotiating paper has reached now, but he stressed that he cannot predict the time frame for reaching a final agreement, and he expressed his hope that this will happen soon.
Resume negotiations
These developments come at a time when Cairo News Channel quoted a high-ranking source – whose name was not mentioned – confirming the agreement of all parties to return to the negotiating track regarding the Gaza Strip.
The source confirmed the continuation of the Gaza truce talks, in the presence of delegations from Doha, Washington, and Hamas, in addition to the Egyptian security delegation.
Reuters also quoted an informed source and sources at Cairo International Airport that CIA Director William Burns returned to Cairo on Tuesday to hold talks with the aim of reaching a truce and an agreement for the prisoners.
For its part, the Hamas movement announced – in a statement on Tuesday evening – the arrival of its delegation to Cairo “to follow up efforts with the mediator brothers in Egypt and Qatar in order to achieve an agreement to stop the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
The statement explained that the delegation was headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, deputy head of the movement in Gaza, and included Zaher Jabarin, Ghazi Hamad, and Muhammad Nasr.
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli negotiating delegation arrived in Cairo. 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.
Israeli variation
For his part, Israeli War Council Minister Benny Gantz urged the delegation to make every effort to reach a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas.
Gantz said that the negotiating team that went to Cairo not only has a mandate to listen, but also has an obligation to do its best and work to reach the broad outlines of a deal.
On the other hand, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich considered that sending the negotiating delegation to Cairo was a mistake, “and tantamount to falling into the trap of manipulation set by Hamas with Qatar and Egypt,” as he claimed.
He added, referring to the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip: “This is the right time to put more and more pressure on the necks of Yahya Sinwar and Hamas until they are eliminated,” he said.
Smotrich believed that the conversation currently should only be about fire. He continued, addressing the Israeli officials: “You must not surrender to international pressure, and you must not stop until victory and the enemy’s surrender. This is our war of independence and we must win it.”
This comes amid demonstrations in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv demanding that the delegation be granted greater powers in order to reach a prisoner exchange deal.