Hamas official says delegation to meet Egyptian mediators in Cairo Saturday

Hamas official says delegation to meet Egyptian mediators in Cairo Saturday

Hamas officials are set to meet with Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Saturday, according to reports from the Times of Israel and the BBC. This meeting comes amidst ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, with both sides seeking to end the conflict in Gaza.

The proposed ceasefire, as reported by the BBC, includes a truce lasting between five and seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a formal end to the war, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza [2]. The Palestinian official familiar with the talks described the current mediation effort as serious and noted Hamas' unprecedented flexibility in the negotiations.

The Hamas delegation, led by the group's chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya, is expected to discuss the proposal with Egyptian officials. This meeting follows the collapse of the previous ceasefire, which was disrupted when Israel resumed bombing Gaza after disagreements over the terms of the next stage [1].

Meanwhile, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Israel's renewed campaign in Gaza is showing signs of pushing Hamas toward accepting Israeli demands at the negotiating table. Israel continues to insist that it will not agree to an end to the war without Hamas fully disarming and its leaders going into exile [1].

The meeting in Cairo is a significant step in the ongoing negotiations, with both sides seeking to find a resolution to the conflict. The success of these talks will depend on the willingness of both Israel and Hamas to compromise and make concessions.

References:
[1] https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-delegation-heads-for-cairo-as-egypt-takes-mediation-lead-in-hostage-talks/
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62xnqlj11lo