An Israeli delegation is set to travel to Egypt’s Cairo on Thursday evening to continue Gaza ceasefire talks held this week, according to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The delegation, led by Ronen Bar, director of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, and along with representatives from the Israel Defense Forces, “is due to leave for Cairo this evening to continue the talks,” said the statement.
Israel’s state-owned Kan TV news reported that the talks will focus on a possible Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and the reopening of the Rafah crossing. The crossing was an important entry point for aid from Egypt into Gaza before it was closed in early May after Israeli troops assumed control over its Palestinian side.
The Israeli negotiating team has just returned after the four-party talks with mediators from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in Doha. Netanyahu’s office stated that “the meeting discussed the clauses of the deal on returning the Israeli hostages and ways to implement the outline while ensuring all the objectives of the war will be achieved.”
Also on Thursday, Hamas released a statement accusing Israel of stalling the current round of talks and attempting to derail efforts to reach a deal regarding a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza. The group said it has not yet received any update from mediators on new developments in Doha talks.
FACEBOOK COMMENTS