Top representatives in Cairo
Mossad chief negotiates six-week ceasefire in Gaza
February 13, 2024, 5:16 p.m
134 people are said to still be in the hands of Hamas. Now, according to insider information, negotiations on a ceasefire and a hostage deal are making progress. It is said that a “final draft” is being worked on in Cairo.
Top representatives from the USA, Israel, Qatar and Egypt are seeking a ceasefire in the Gaza war and an exchange of hostages from Hamas’ violence against Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The head of the Israeli secret service Mossad, David Barnea, arrived in Cairo for talks, according to airport circles. He was accompanied, among others, by the head of the domestic secret service Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.
Israeli government circles also reported that the delegation was in Cairo for new negotiations on another hostage deal with the Islamist Hamas. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and CIA intelligence chief William Burns also arrived in the Egyptian capital, according to sources.
According to Egyptian government sources, negotiators have made “relatively significant” progress in negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and the militant Islamist Hamas. The Egyptian side said the meeting would focus on creating a “final draft” agreement for a six-week ceasefire in the Gaza Strip – with guarantees that the parties involved would continue negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire.
Bridge remaining trenches
A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a possible deal for a six-week ceasefire was on the table but said more work was needed to reach an agreement. The meeting is crucial to bridging the remaining divides and getting the two sides to agree to a six-week ceasefire and begin talks on a final ceasefire agreement.
During a ceasefire last November, 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Egypt, Qatar and the USA had already mediated during this ceasefire. There are currently 134 people in the hands of Hamas, but according to Israeli estimates, at least 30 of them are no longer alive. According to media reports, the number of people killed could now be as high as 50.
On Monday night, Israel’s military rescued two hostages in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. Terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian groups abducted the people from Israel to the Gaza Strip on October 7th.