Hamas in Cairo for brief on latest talks: ‘We came to listen, not negotiate’
A high-level Israeli delegation headed to the Egyptian capital on Sunday, despite a large Hezbollah attack on Israel early that morning
Hamas has confirmed that its representatives are formulating a response to what they heard from mediators in Cairo, who held talks in the Egyptian capital over the weekend to discuss a new US-backed proposal for a ceasefire and captives exchange in Gaza.
The delegation “came to Cairo to listen, not to negotiate,” a spokesman in the resistance movement, Jihad Taha, told Al-Araby al-Jadeed on 25 August, one day after Hamas confirmed its representatives would head to the Egyptian capital to be briefed on the results of the ongoing talks.
“The delegation will present what it heard from the mediators to the movement’s leadership and the resistance factions to study it and formulate a position in this regard,” Taha added.
The Hamas delegation is being headed by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya.
Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzouk also told Al-Araby al-Jadeed that the delegation came to Cairo “based on the existence of development, but it is not complete,” adding that they will “listen closely” to what Egyptian mediators have to say.
“Our visit to Cairo does not mean that we will enter the next round of negotiations,” Abu Marzouk added.
Hamas has opted out of the latest rounds of talks given that the new US-backed proposal being discussed fails to address the resistance group’s main demands – namely a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has imposed new conditions, including the continued presence of Israeli troops on the Philadelphi corridor and Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border, as well as Netzarim Corridor cutting through central Gaza.
An Israeli delegation left for Cairo on Sunday to continue talks.
According to Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation, Mossad chief David Barnea, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the Israeli army’s captives’ liaison Nitzan Alon, will travel to Cairo as planned.
Hebrew news site Walla said Barnea will take part in a four-way meeting with CIA Director William Burns, Egyptian Intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.
Hebrew media has expressed low expectations for success in the talks, given Netanyahu’s positions, which have consistently blocked an agreement from being reached.
The delegation’s departure came despite a state of alert in Israel after Hezbollahlaunched the first phase of the retaliation to the recent Israeli attack on the Lebanese capital early on 25 August. Hundreds of rockets and drones were fired at military sites across the Galilee and Golan Heights, coinciding with a strike on a vital target that has yet to be announced.
Israel has imposed strict censorship on media and officials, but information has started to emerge on casualties, as well as damage inflicted on an Israeli warship and other military infrastructure.
Hezbollah has rejected official Israeli claims that Tel Aviv thwarted the large-scale attack.