Exclusive: Hamas delegation to arrive in Cairo on Sunday for talks

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
3 Mar 2024 00:19
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Sources in the Palestinian leadership reveal to Al Mayadeen the details behind ongoing mediated negotiations and future prospects.

A camp set up by Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli occupation forces Rafah, the Gaza Strip, Palestine, on February 27, 2024. (AP)

Sources in the leadership of the Palestinian Resistance revealed to Al Mayadeen some of the key details in the ongoing mediated negotiations between the Resistance and the Israeli occupation.

The framework for a deal consists of three stages, where the details and clauses behind each stage will be negotiated separately. The duration of the proposed truce ranges between 40 and 45 days each, our sources confirmed.

The revelation comes as a senior delegation from the Hamas movement is set to visit the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Sunday to move forward in the negotiation process.

The new proposals will be presented to "bridge the gap between Hamas and Israel," sources from the leadership of the Palestinian Resistance told Al Mayadeen. They added that Egypt and Qatar are attempting to introduce different approaches to the talks, but they are encountering Israeli intransigence.

Sources affirmed that there has been slight progress in the negotiations and that Israelis have softened their approach to some issues, specifically regarding the issue of returning forcibly displaced Palestinians and the number of prisoners included in a possible exchange deal.

They also revealed that "Israel" agreed to the return of forcibly displaced Palestinians to their homes under the condition that it is limited to women and children and those under 18 years old. Our sources emphasized that Hamas rejected this clause.

Regarding the Resistance's demand that Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip, our sources said that "Israel" still insists on maintaining a military presence in the Gaza Strip during the first stage of the agreement.

It is worth noting that France has hosted multiple meetings of mediators and Israeli, American, Egyptian, and Qatari intelligence officers on multiple occasions, attempting to craft a deal for a prisoner exchange and a ceasefire, which the Israeli side has deliberately obstructed by ignoring calls for a lasting ceasefire. Two major talks occurred this year, however, the latest resulted in what the Resistance described as Israeli "obstruction" of a breakthrough in talks.

No deal has been reached as of this moment, however, the Resistance's representatives are expected to review the progress of efforts made by mediators in the past few weeks, during a crucial period, with the Holy month of Ramadan approaching.