Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is scheduled to meet with Egyptian officials on Wednesday to discuss a ceasefire in Gaza and a potential prisoner exchange with Israel, according to a source close to the Palestinian militant group. This visit marks the first time Hamas engages in talks with Cairo regarding a hostage deal since the conclusion of the previous ceasefire.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is set to visit Egypt on Wednesday for talks on a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange with Israel, a source close to the Palestinian militant group said. This marks the first Hamas visit to Cairo to discuss a potential hostage deal since the end of the previous cease-fire.
Qatar-based Haniyeh will head a “high-level” Hamas delegation to Egypt, where he is due to hold talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and others.
The discussions will be on stopping the aggression and the war to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners (and) the end of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
At the same time, Israeli President Isaac Herzog affirmed Israel’s readiness for an additional humanitarian pause aimed at facilitating hostage release.
According to Palestinian and Arab sources, Egypt is currently exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to a similar framework as the previous deal – releasing captives in exchange for prisoners. However, Hamas insists on linking any captive release to a ceasefire.
The Israeli Channel 13 cited an informed official as saying that the costs of the new deal — exchanging prisoners with Hamas — are likely to be “very high and costly.”
On its part, the Israeli Channel 12 stated that “important, serious, and in-depth” discussions are taking place regarding the details of a prisoner exchange deal, but an agreement is not imminent.
Meanwhile, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper confirmed that Israel is determined to make a breakthrough in the talks despite being aware that it “will pay a hefty price.”
Khalil Wakim & AFP
