JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Egyptian sources reported Sunday night that significant progress has been made in discussions in Cairo on a truce in the Gaza conflict and that there is agreement on the basic points between all parties involved.
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There was no immediate comment from Hamas and none of the parties to the Cairo talks has confirmed the report on Egypt’s Al-Qahera news station. However the Israeli chief of staff Hertzi Halevi appeared to hint to the progress when he said Sunday that “The negotiations must be carried out responsibly and carefully and the details should remain in the right rooms. The IDF is strong enough for Israel to pay prices to bring back its citizens. We have a moral obligation towards them and the IDF will know how to deal with the price of negotiations and will also know how to come back and fight with force.”
The Egyptian report stated that Hamas and Qatar’s delegations have left Cairo and will return within two days to agree on the terms of the final agreement, while the Israeli and the US. delegations will leave the Egyptian capital within a few hours. It added that consultations were ongoing during the next 48 hours.
Earlier on Sunday night, Hamas said that a delegation on its behalf has arrived in Cairo to meet with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Hamas reiterated demands they have made previously in March, including the demand for a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, a return of the displaced, and an exchange of Palestinian Arab prisoners for Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.
The current American proposal calls for Hamas to step down on its demand for a permanent ceasefire in exchange for returning residents of Northern Gaza to their homes. A senior Israeli official said on Channel 12 that “These are critical hours and we have reached the moment of truth when we’ll know if we’re going to a deal or not. We are at the stage of difficult decisions.”
On Friday, CNN reported that Hamas had rejected the most recent Israeli proposal for a hostage release deal.
“They refused and asserted it doesn’t include any reply to their demands,” a diplomat told the channel. Hamas believes “that Israeli proposal includes nothing new so they see no need to change their proposal,” the official told CNN.
Later in the day it was reported that US President Joe Biden had written to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, calling on them to press Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel.
Last week, a senior diplomatic official in Israel expressed optimism that a deal to return the hostages held by Hamas is possible in the near future.
“If Hamas is interested in a deal – we can move forward. We have come a long way this time as well, there is potential for progress in the coming days,” said the source.
So basically, prepare yourself for the ugliest deal you have ever seen this side of gilad shalit. Raboisai you can’t make this stuff up
With Israel stopping the offensive, and withdrawing their troops,Hamas, has no incentive to agree, and adhere, to a cease-fire. They’re savages and they hold all the cards. in hindsight, Israel should never have agreed to stop its offensive until all the hostages were released. But, we cannot unring that bell.
The savages at Hamas have agreed to welcome back to their ranks thousands of murderous monsters, while Israel has agreed to imperil herself and the world by releasing these barbarians. Nice type of agreement. Like a kid conceding to his mother that he eat chocolate and ice cream 3 times a day, rather than healthy nutritious food.
Topple Biden.
All the experts commenting here, should share their wisdom with the IDF. Is it possible that not all details have been shared with the public? It is audacious to sit in a comfy environment in galut, and pontificate about Israeli decisions.
The deal was basically for Israel to release 900 terrorists for 40 hostages (with a lot of other conditions) – but Hamas has rejected the deal already.
Hamas are not interested in any deal, just to prolong the terror and fight to the end.