An Egyptian source told state broadcaster Al Qahera that
negotiations on Gaza in Cairo have made "great progress"
and that talks will continue over the next 48 hours. According to the source, there would be "agreement on the main points between the various parties". Delegations from Israel, Hamas, the United States and Qatar will leave the Egyptian capital in the next few hours, but are expected to return in two days "to agree on the articles of the final agreement".
But Israeli sources, for their part, have downplayed the possibility of an imminent agreement
. “We still don't see an agreement on the horizon,” they said. "The distance between the parties - they explained - is still large and so far there has been nothing significant". A Hamas source also told al Jazeera that for now "there is no progress", blaming Israel for this.
'This time it's different'
“This time it's different, we haven't been this close to an agreement for months,” says a source at Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 regarding the Cairo negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza Strip. Shortly before, an Egyptian source had revealed that the talks had recorded "great progress" and that negotiations will continue in the next 48 hours.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Tajani, 'guarantees from Israel for Food for Gaza' - News - Ansa.it 'May the IDF not enter Rafah'. Katz in Rome with the families of the kidnapped (ANSA)
Hamas highlights its conditions
Hamas says its delegation that arrived in Cairo for negotiations on the Gaza Strip met last night with Egyptian intelligence director General Abbas Kamel. In a statement quoted by local media, the Palestinian Islamist movement reiterated its demands: the complete cessation of aggression by Israeli forces, their withdrawal from the Strip, the free return of displaced people from the Palestinian enclave to their areas and places of residence, relief for Palestinians and the beginning of reconstruction, an agreement for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.
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