Today, Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with CIA Director William Burns the possibility of Tel Aviv halting its operations in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, in exchange for the release of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while negotiations continue to reach a settlement. Agreement regarding the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was held in Netanyahu’s office in West Jerusalem, in the presence of the head of Israeli Foreign Intelligence (Mossad), David Barnea.
Haaretz newspaper quoted an unnamed senior Israeli official as saying that the two sides discussed the possibility of Israel halting its operations in Rafah, in exchange for the release of Israeli prisoners held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza.
Earlier Wednesday, Burns arrived in Israel, on a visit whose program was not announced, after participating in the exchange deal talks between Tel Aviv and Hamas with the Qatari and Egyptian mediation parties in Cairo.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper confirmed the end of the CIA director’s meetings with Netanyahu and the head of the Mossad.
Bridge the gap
In this context, the White House said that talks on a possible agreement in Gaza are continuing and that the gap between the two sides can be bridged.
The Walla news website also quoted another unnamed Israeli official as saying that there are still major gaps in the negotiations regarding the prisoner deal in Gaza.
But he indicated that the Israeli delegation will remain in Cairo to try to bridge these gaps, and will make a great effort to reach an agreement.
He added that there is a very broad mandate for the negotiating team, and a great effort is being made to try to fill the gaps.
The source claimed that “Hamas’ position exceeds all the red lines set by Israel, and does not allow for progress.”
He continued, “Israel will continue its plans regarding Rafah, and at the same time it will continue negotiations in Cairo.”
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told Tel Aviv Tribune that Hamas presented additional demands in its response to the prisoner deal proposal, and this happens in the negotiations.
Miller explained that the United States has assured all parties that it wants to see an agreement concluded as soon as possible. The American official also said that Washington informed the Israeli government that an agreement is possible and all parties must do their best.
Today, Wednesday, negotiations resumed in Cairo aimed at reaching an agreement to exchange prisoners and ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in the presence of all concerned parties, amid American optimism about the possibility of concluding an agreement.
Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said that the movement sent its delegation to Cairo to confirm its seriousness in negotiating, and that the ball is now in the court of the American administration, which he said must prove its seriousness and credibility in committing the Netanyahu government to the agreement proposal that Hamas agreed to.
Source : Tel Aviv Tribune + Agencies + Israeli press