Hamas and Egypt - Headed Towards A Direct Clash?
Recent statements by Hamas senior leader Khalil al-Hayya have angered not only Jordan but also Egypt, a key mediator in the hostage negotiation talks and a major power in the region.
Egypt is now directly clashing with Hamas to the point of a possible open break, according to a report today (Tuesday) by Channel 12.
Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas leader who heads the terrorist groups' negotiation team and who served as Yahya Sinwar's deputy, recently gave a defiant speech not only rejecting any compromise on a hostage deal but also fiercely attacking Jordan and Egypt.
Egypt, a major power in the region and one of the two countries intimately involved in hostage negotiations as mediators, is incensed at apparent calls to incite the Egyptian population to breach the border with Rafah, alongside calls from the Muslim Brotherhood to rebel against Egyptian state authority.
As such, this rift means the likelihood of a hostage deal is now very, very slim.