Israeli delegation heads to Cairo for ceasefire, hostage release talks in Gaza

An Israeli delegation headed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar is expected to visit Cairo on December 5 to discuss new ideas for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in Gaza.

The delegation will include a special envoy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

This follows talks between Egypt and Hamas, during which a draft proposal was prepared that may alleviate Netanyahu's concerns about the potential collapse of his coalition if he makes a deal.

Note that, Egypt has reportedly prepared a new draft of the main terms of an agreement after discussions with Hamas representatives, who have shown a willingness to resume cooperation.

These talks have opened the door for the inclusion of unpublished clauses in any potential deal, as well as the possibility of an early agreement on key terms, including the withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip.

This approach aims to alleviate concerns from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the potential collapse of his coalition, enabling him to present the agreement to his government partners.

In addition, Egyptian officials have been in contact with both outgoing US President Joe Biden’s administration and allies of incoming President Donald Trump. The Egyptians have cautioned against exerting excessive pressure on Hamas and its political leadership.

According to Egyptian sources, increasing pressure on Hamas could destabilize the situation and endanger the lives of hostages.

The Egyptian authorities also highlighted that Hamas’s Political Bureau is making significant efforts to manage those responsible for the hostages on the ground, considering the scale of Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip.

By Aghakazim Guliyev