A delegation from Hamas arrived in Egypt today, Saturday, to continue discussions regarding a ceasefire agreement with Israel in the Gaza Strip, as confirmed by Cairo News Channel. The channel reported, citing a high-level Egyptian source, that there has been "significant progress in the negotiations," mentioning that the Egyptian security delegation negotiating has reached a consensus on many points of contention.
An Arab source familiar with the prisoner exchange negotiations between Hamas and Israel stated today that the agreement between the two parties is now imminent, with "substantial developments" occurring in recent hours. The source informed the World Arab News Agency that Hamas has responded positively to the Egyptian proposal and will discuss additional details with the Egyptian side today in hopes of making further final touches to the agreement.
The source added: "We hope that no conflicting positions arise in the last moments, or new obstacles from any party." The informed source noted that the United States has pressured for commitments from Israel to put a timeline for fully ending the war, stating that achieving this could take about four months.
The source stated that the implementation of the agreement would occur in at least three stages, possibly four. The first stage is intended for the release of unconscribed Israeli women, the elderly, and the sick, totaling around 30 individuals. The second stage includes the release of the remaining Israeli civilians, while the third stage focuses on the release of military personnel. If a fourth stage occurs, it will be dedicated to exchanging corpses.
A source in Hamas indicated that the movement views the recent developments in the negotiations positively, emphasizing concern about the potential for the Israeli side to evade carrying out the agreement. The source told the World Arab News Agency: "We will discuss the recent details and developments in Cairo today, and it cannot be said that there is either approval or rejection of the recent proposals; everything will be on the negotiating table."
Israeli broadcasting authority reported today that a Hamas official stated that the movement has agreed to execute the first phase of the prisoner exchange under the Egyptian proposal. The official said: "The movement's approval came after the United States, through Egypt and Qatar, committed to the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip at the end of 124 days from the implementation of the entire deal, and the war will cease."
The source added that CIA Director William Burns will return to Cairo to oversee the completion of the final formulation of the agreement. A Hamas delegation led by Khalil Hayya, deputy head of the movement in Gaza, arrived in Cairo today, with an Israeli delegation also expected to arrive in the Egyptian capital. According to the source, the Americans have promised Hamas that the Israeli army will not enter Rafah at any stage. A Hamas source clarified that settlements were reached regarding the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for each Israeli detainee.
