France and Egypt are establishing a cell in Cairo to facilitate ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Stephane Sejournemet with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, in Cairo on Saturday, as part of a growing wave of diplomacy aimed at ensuring an agreement between Israel and Hamas and reduce tensions in the region.
Sejourne arrived in Cairo on the last leg of his regional tour that included Tel Avivlos Palestinian Territories y Beirut. The Egyptian capital is prepared to host the next round of talks between Israel and Hamasbased on recent talks in Doha that mediators considered positive.
Statements by diplomats
In Cairo, Sejourne stated: “My regional tour ends after Beirut, Tel Aviv and the Palestinian territories. At each stage, I had discussions about the need for a ceasefireput an end to the suffering of the people in Gaza and free the hostages, including two Frenchmen.”
For his part, Egypt’s top diplomat expressed optimism: “If the intentions are sincere and if there is political willso a ceasefire can certainly be reachedHe added that “there are some gaps and gaps, but they are being addressed and ideas are being explored on how to overcome them.”
Ceasefire proposal
A US official said Friday that the ceasefire agreement presented to the two sides covers all gaps between Israel and Hamas. In a sign of confidence, mediators began preparations to implement the proposal even before it was approved.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, mentioned that establishing an implementation cell in Cairo to focus on logistics, including hostage releasethe provision of humanitarian aid for Gaza and ensure that the terms of the agreement are met.
Challenges and hopes
However, Hamas expressed doubts about whether a deal was close, saying that the latest proposal deviated significantly from a previous iteration which they had accepted in principle. The Israeli prime minister’s office issued a statement saying it “appreciates the efforts of the US and mediators to dissuade Hamas from its refusal of a hostage release deal.”
Both parties agreed in principle on an announced plan on May 31 by US President Joe Biden. But Hamas has proposed amendments and Israel has suggested clarifications, leading each side to accuse the other of trying to thwart a deal.
