Cairo – A new round of talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner exchange deal between the Palestinian factions and Israel is expected to be held in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Sunday.
A delegation from the factions movement, headed by the member of the political bureau and the official in charge of the negotiations file in the movement, Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo yesterday, at the invitation of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, to review the results of the recent negotiations.
A statement issued by the factions movement confirmed the movement’s readiness to implement what was previously agreed upon, calling for pressure on the occupation and for it to be obligated, and to stop obstructing reaching an agreement.
Reuters quoted an informed source as saying that Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is expected to attend the Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo.
The Associated Press reported, citing an informed source, that the American delegation, headed by CIA Director William Burns and White House Middle East Advisor Brett McGurk, held talks with senior Egyptian officials and then talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
According to Israeli media, the Israeli delegation is scheduled to be headed by Mossad Director David Barnea, who will head to Cairo today.
An extensive round of discussions took place in Cairo on Friday and Saturday to prepare for today’s round of negotiations. According to Egyptian sources, Washington discussed with “the mediators additional proposals to bridge the gaps between Israel and the factions’ movement and implementation mechanisms.”
Egyptian sources told Agence France-Presse that today’s round will be “a pivotal one in formulating an agreement that will be announced if Washington succeeds in pressuring (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Netanyahu’s office confirmed this week his commitment to achieving “all the war’s goals” before a ceasefire, considering that “this requires securing the southern border” of the Strip with Egypt.
This indicates Israel’s insistence on keeping forces in Gaza, especially along the border strip between the Strip and Egypt, known as the “Philadelphi Corridor.” The factions’ movement strongly rejects this and stresses the need for a complete withdrawal.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed last Thursday his commitment to “the principle that Israel must control the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent the movement of factions from rearming.”
The factions movement adheres to its position calling for adherence to the proposal according to the formula announced by US President Joe Biden on May 31, and announced its acceptance in early July.
The proposal calls for a 6-week truce accompanied by an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas in Gaza and the release of Israeli prisoners held by the resistance, followed by a second phase ending with a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Strip.
Disagreements have resurfaced in Israel between Netanyahu and the negotiators due to Netanyahu’s insistence on keeping the army in the Philadelphi corridor.
For its part, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted Israeli officials as saying that Netanyahu is leading Israel to a dangerous crossroads between the hostage deal and escalation.
Netanyahu has put Israel in its worst strategic position ever, with the possibility of a major war, the officials added.
In turn, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to go to Cairo to conclude a deal now for a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
Lapid called on the prime minister to resign, noting that Netanyahu should have resigned on October 8.
Lapid’s statements coincided with tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrating yesterday, Saturday, in “Kidnapped Square” in central Tel Aviv and opposite the Ministry of Defense, demanding the conclusion of a swap deal with the factions movement.
The demonstrators raised banners demanding the departure of Netanyahu’s government and others indicating that the ongoing negotiations in Cairo are the last chance for a deal.
While thousands of others demonstrated in the city of Haifa, in response to the call of the families of the Israeli prisoners, and demanded that the families’ call be responded to, and that a deal be reached immediately.
Similar demonstrations were held in various Israeli towns, including a demonstration with hundreds of people outside Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea. The prisoners’ families had accused Netanyahu, in a press conference before the demonstrations began, of risking the prisoners’ lives for his own political interests.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies
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2024-08-26 00:57:09
