By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan
CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas negotiators arrived in Cairo on Saturday for intensified talks on a potential Gaza truce that may see the return to Israel of some hostages, a Hamas official instructed Reuters, with the CIA director already current for the oblique diplomacy.
Egypt’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera Information TV channel additionally confirmed the arrival of the Hamas delegation in Cairo.
“The outcomes at present shall be completely different. We have now reached an settlement over many factors, and some level stay,” one Egyptian safety supply instructed Reuters.
A Palestinian official with data of the mediation efforts sounded cautious optimism.
“Issues look higher this time however whether or not an settlement is readily available would depend upon whether or not Israel has supplied what it takes for that to occur,” the official, who requested to not be named, instructed Reuters.
The Hamas delegation arrived from the Palestinian Islamist motion’s headquarters in Qatar, which, together with Egypt, has tried to mediate a follow-up to a quick November ceasefire. Washington, whereas formally shunning Hamas, has referred to as on it to enter a deal.
The talks have stumbled, nonetheless, over Hamas’ long-standing demand for a dedication to finish the virtually seven-month-old offensive by Israel, which insists that after any truce it could resume operations designed to disarm and dismantle the faction.
Signalling a potential breakthrough, Hamas mentioned on Friday it could come to Cairo in a “optimistic spirit” after finding out the newest proposal for a deal, little of which has been made public. Israel has beforehand mentioned it was open to the brand new phrases.
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Egyptian sources mentioned William Burns, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Company, arrived in Cairo on Friday. He has been concerned in earlier rounds of truce talks and Washington has signalled there could also be progress this time.
The CIA declined to touch upon Burns’ itinerary.
Egypt made a renewed push to revive negotiations late final
month, alarmed by the prospect of an Israeli assault in opposition to Hamas in Rafah in southern Gaza, the place greater than 1 million Palestinians have taken shelter close to the border with Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
A serious Israeli operation in Rafah may deal an enormous blow to fragile humanitarian operations in Gaza and put many extra lives in danger, in line with U.N. officers.
The struggle started after Hamas staged a cross-border raid on Oct. 7 through which 1,200 individuals in southern Israel had been killed and 252 hostages taken, in line with Israeli tallies.
Greater than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed and greater than 77,000 have been wounded by Israeli hearth throughout a marketing campaign that has laid waste to the coastal enclave, in line with Gaza’s well being ministry.
