Cairo, Egypt: The United States reported progress on Friday in the latest round of Gaza truce negotiations, which have been complicated by the presence of Israeli troops on the Egyptian border. The White House announced that CIA Director William Burns, along with Israeli intelligence heads, participated in the discussions held in Cairo.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby indicated that preliminary talks, which began Thursday, were “constructive in nature.” He dismissed reports suggesting that the diplomacy was “near collapse,” emphasizing the need for both sides to work towards implementing the agreement.
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An Egyptian source close to the negotiations confirmed the involvement of Egyptian and Qatari intelligence chiefs, noting that these discussions are a prelude to a broader round of negotiations scheduled to begin on Sunday. “Washington is working with mediators on new proposals to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas and establish mechanisms for implementation,” the source added.
President Joe Biden has been actively engaged in the process, discussing the upcoming talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Friday. According to the Egyptian source, Sunday’s negotiations will be crucial in formulating an agreement, contingent on whether Washington can exert sufficient pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hossam Badran, an official from the Islamist movement Hamas, criticized Netanyahu’s insistence on maintaining Israeli troop presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, as a significant obstacle to reaching a final agreement.
Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to end over 10 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas have faced persistent challenges. Previous optimism has frequently dissipated amidst ongoing violence.
On Friday, fighting continued in Gaza, with reports of clashes across northern, central, and southern regions. An overnight airstrike near Khan Yunis resulted in the deaths of 11 people, including four women and four children, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
US Hostage Negotiations
The White House also announced that President Biden discussed the upcoming hostage negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari leaders. The talks, set for later this weekend in Cairo, aim to address remaining obstacles to a potential deal. However, Hamas has yet to accept the latest bridging proposal submitted by the US, and hopes for a breakthrough remain uncertain.
In a related development, Israeli shelling early Saturday resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians, including two children and a woman, in Gaza’s Khan Younis and the Al-Nuseirat camp area, according to the Palestinian Authority’s news agency Wafa.
Key Points:
- US Reports Progress in Gaza Truce Talks:
- The White House announces progress in Gaza truce negotiations held in Cairo.
- CIA Director William Burns and Israeli intelligence leaders participated in the talks.
- Border Tensions Impact Negotiations:
- Israeli troop presence on the Gaza-Egypt border remains a major sticking point.
- Hossam Badran from Hamas criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s stance on border security.
- Upcoming Broader Negotiations:
- Egyptian and Qatari intelligence chiefs are involved in preliminary discussions.
- A significant round of negotiations is scheduled to begin on Sunday.
- US Presidential Involvement:
- President Biden discussed the talks with Egyptian President al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
- Efforts are ongoing to address obstacles to a potential agreement.
- Continued Violence in Gaza:
- Fighting persists with casualties reported in Gaza, including an overnight airstrike near Khan Yunis.
- Recent violence includes the deaths of at least nine Palestinians due to Israeli shelling.
- Hostage Negotiations:
- Upcoming hostage talks in Cairo face uncertainty as Hamas has not yet accepted the US-proposed bridging plan.
