Egypt Pushes for Comprehensive Gaza Deal by Month’s End
Reports: Hamas Shows Flexibility on International Forces and Transitional Administration in Cairo Talks
TwitterEgypt is preparing to host a high-level meeting of all Palestinian factions to discuss the “day after” in Gaza, according to several reports in Arab media. One such report claims that Hamas has shown flexibility regarding the deployment of international and Arab forces in the Strip, as well as the establishment of a transitional administration to manage the territory.
Taher al-Nono, senior political bureau official for Hamas, told Saudi channel Asharq on Wednesday evening that a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya is in Cairo, where it met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad. According to al-Nono, the talks with senior Egyptian officials have focused on “ways to end the war of annihilation on the Gaza Strip, efforts to restart negotiations, the entry of humanitarian aid, and internal Palestinian issues in order to reach national Palestinian understandings on political matters.”
Saudi channel Al-Arabiya, citing sources, reported that Egypt is working on a comprehensive deal for the Gaza Strip, set to be implemented by the end of this month. According to these sources, Egypt has received Hamas’s demands, which it will present to other mediators and to Israel. Hamas reportedly stressed during the Cairo talks that it is committed to safeguarding the lives of hostages and is willing to withdraw its fighters in exchange for an agreed-upon Israeli military pullback to designated positions.
A Palestinian source told Asharq that Egypt will soon convene a conference of Palestinian factions to address “the internal Palestinian settlement, particularly with regard to the ‘day after’ the war and the governance of the Strip.”
An Egyptian source familiar with the talks said discussions also covered “ways to push forward efforts toward a truce in Gaza.” The Hamas delegation reportedly expressed a desire to return quickly to ceasefire negotiations and thanked Egypt for its role in facilitating humanitarian aid into the enclave.
In parallel, Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath reported that Egypt is holding consultations with Fatah and other senior Palestinian figures “regarding the situation in Gaza and possibilities for unifying the Palestinian position.” The sources added that Egypt is coordinating with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan on the matter.
Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar, aligned with the so-called Axis of Resistance, quoted a senior Egyptian official involved in the talks as saying that Hamas has shown openness to the idea of international and Arab forces carrying out defined missions in Gaza until a local police force is trained and security is restored.
Hamas also reportedly agreed in principle to a transitional administration led by Palestinian businessman Samir Hleileh.
At this stage, Egypt is said to be understanding of Hamas’s insistence on retaining its weapons, while setting clear, agreed-upon parameters for the tasks of any international forces. These arrangements would include a commitment by Gaza’s armed groups to maintain calm and refrain from initiating attacks on Israeli forces.