Hamas Peace Talks in Cairo: Progress and Challenges Ahead

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Peace talks are expected to begin in Cairo on Sunday, after the first round ended Saturday without “any development,” a senior Hamas source close to the talks told CBS News.

Cairo News Channel reported that a high-level source said that there is good progress in the negotiations for humanitarian peace in Gaza and the exchange agreement, which Cairo is currently holding.

The channel said that the Egyptian source said that the terms of the agreement published in the media are inaccurate, and that the Egyptian security delegation that is participating in this round of joint settlement still continues its consultations with all parties to achieve an agreement.

The channel also said that the return of the Palestinian population from the south of the Gaza Strip to the north is one of the most obvious provisions in the agreement that is currently being worked on.

A senior Hamas official confirmed on Saturday night that the movement will “under no circumstances” agree to a Gaza peace deal that does not specifically include a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” according to Agence France-Presse.

The official, who asked to remain anonymous, accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “personally obstructing efforts to reach a peace agreement for what he considered to be “personal calculations”.

He said that “Hamas had requested that the agreement include clear and unambiguous text that says (an agreement on a complete and permanent ceasefire),” noting that “Israel has ‘ this point has been rejected so far.

A Hamas official said, “We emphasize that the Rafah attack will not be a picnic, and the occupation will pay a heavy price for any adventure it undertakes, and it will fail.”

Hamas has not issued any notice of submitting its response to the terms of the ceasefire proposal.

According to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Hamas received guarantees from the United States that Israel would be fully withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, and that Israeli forces would not continue fighting. once the enemies are released.

However, Haaretz also reported that an Israeli official told him that “Israel will not, under any circumstances, agree to end the war in a treaty, and that there is an intention to enter Rafah.” “

Speaking to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that concluding a surrender agreement that would end the war would be a disaster, and that the Rafah process should begin anew. now.”

Ben Gvir wrote on the X platform, “No to reckless agreement, yes to Rafah’s attack.”

In his post, Ben Gvir warned Netanyahu of the consequences of “not fulfilling the promises he made with me last week, while he is well aware of the cost of not fulfilling them . “

Israeli media, citing journalists, said that Prime Minister Netanyahu was “issuing statements against terminating the hostilities agreement under the direction of a diplomatic official.” “

The Jerusalem Post newspaper confirmed that Israeli journalists decided to “expose Netanyahu and his game aimed at blocking the deal,” saying that Israeli journalists told the newspaper, “that the officer whose name was not published and who threatened to enter Rafah despite any agreement. Benjamin Netanyahu.”

The newspaper pointed out that Netanyahu aims to “refute the public opinion that there is a consensus regarding the increase of arms against a possible truce.” “

For its part, The Times of Israel newspaper confirmed that Netanyahu did not “request” the Ministers of the War Council, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, for consultations when it was decided not to send a delegation to Cairo.

On Saturday, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Netanyahu to send the negotiating delegation to Cairo tonight to finalize the exchange agreement.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Lapid as saying: “Netanyahu should send back the negotiating team without concluding an agreement and return the detainees.”

“There is no such thing as victory without reaching an agreement and returning the detainees,” Lapid continued in his speech.

Demonstrators gathered in Democracy Square, in Tel Aviv, to protest against the government and call for early elections and the release of hostages held by Hamas.

The protest is organized by the Generation Change movement, which was founded after the October 7 attack, to demand the release of the hostages and a change in the leadership of Israel.

Police closed some streets to hold the demonstration, as well as nearby exits to prevent demonstrators from entering traffic.

Sources close to the talks to end the war in the Gaza Strip and exchange spies revealed that Israel is “no longer objecting” to the release of Fatah Central Committee member Marwan Barghouti, but He wants to be released to the Gaza Strip and not. the West Bank.

It is expected that Hamas will include the name of Marwan Barghouti on the list for the first stage of the exchange of hostages and prisoners.

The draft agreement presented to Hamas stipulated that the movement would appoint 20 life-sentenced prisoners for every female Israeli soldier released in the first phase of the agreement.

According to the sources, Hamas and the groups in Gaza have between 3 and 5 female soldiers, which means that between 60 and 100 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences will be released in the first phase of the exchange.

Israel wants several reinforcements to be sent to the Gaza Strip or abroad.

Israel refused to release Marwan Barghouti in a deal with Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011.

In June 2006, Hamas kidnapped soldier Shalit on the border of the Gaza Strip, and the two parties engaged in negotiations that lasted 5 years, which ended with the release of Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

The Walla website quoted an Israeli official as saying that Hamas is ready to enter the first phase of the agreement, which does not specify an end to the war.

According to an Israeli official, Hamas will set strict conditions regarding the number of hostages expected to be released in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Israel’s “Makan” Broadcasting Group reported that an Israeli source familiar with the talks said that Israel has not yet reviewed the agreements mentioned in Arab media reports regarding America’s commitments to end on the war.

A report by the Times of Israel website said the latest proposal includes a first phase lasting 40 days, during which up to 33 of the approximately 128 Israeli hostages held in Gaza from October 7 to be released, and the Israeli army to withdraw from it. areas of the Street.

The website said that the second phase will last for 42 days, and will see the release of the remaining hostages, and the completion of permanent pacification measures in Gaza.

The third and final stage sees the exchange of bodies, and it also lasts 42 days.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned Qatar last month that it would have to expel senior Hamas officials if the movement rejects another cease-fire proposal, the Washington Post reported on Saturday.

Qatar responded that it had asked the Hamas leadership to prepare for the situation that they would have to leave the country.

The report quoted three senior officials as saying that Qatar had been preparing to expel Hamas for months, out of frustration with the Palestinian movement’s unwillingness to accept ceasefire proposals.

Reuters reported that Qatar may close the political office of Hamas as part of a wider investigation into its role as a mediator in the war between the movement and Israel, according to an official familiar with the Qatari government review.

The official said Doha is considering whether Hamas should continue with the political office, and that the wider review includes consideration of its role in mediation. in the war that has been going on for seven months or not.

An official familiar with the talks said, “Putting pressure on Hamas in Doha is ineffective,” adding that the decision-makers are in Gaza and are not concerned about the situation in the Gaza Strip. political office.

The source quoted Patrick Theros, the former US ambassador to Qatar, as saying that removing Hamas from Qatar would be a “nightmare” for the White House and would prevent any future negotiations.