CIA boss William Burns, Mossad chief David Barnea and Qatar's head of government, Mohammed bin Abdelrahmane Al-Thani, meet in Cairo as international pressure mounts for a truce deal between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza, after Israel's announcement of an upcoming offensive on the overpopulated Palestinian town of Rafah, according to AlQahera News television, close to Egyptian intelligence.
For its part, Hamas said it was “open to the idea of discussing any initiative to put an end to the aggression and the war,” one of its executives assured AFP under the cover of anonymity.
“Hamas and other Palestinian movements are awaiting the results of the Cairo talks,” he added.
On Monday, United States President Joe Biden announced that an agreement to release hostages held by Hamas, accompanied by a pause of “at least six weeks” in hostilities with Israel, was currently under discussion.
“Protecting” Palestinian civilians in Rafah
The American president repeated that “we must protect” Palestinian civilians in Rafah in the event of an Israeli offensive on this town in the south of the enclave.
“We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah.
This would undoubtedly cause another humanitarian catastrophe,” also said the King of Jordan Abdullah II, during a joint speech with Joe Biden at the White House.
Already, a ceasefire proposal had been sent at the end of January to Hamas, which said it was “examining” it.
Developed during a meeting organized in Paris between American, Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian representatives, this proposal provided, according to a source in the Palestinian Islamist movement, for a six-week truce allowing the exchange of around 40 Israeli hostages for five to six times more. Palestinian prisoners.
The hope of an agreement, however, faded after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the army last Wednesday to “prepare” the offensive on Rafah near the Egyptian border, where Palestinians displaced by the war.
According to Israel, 130 hostages are still in Gaza, 29 of whom are believed to have died, out of around 250 people kidnapped on October 7.
A week-long truce in November allowed the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinians detained by Israel.