Egyptian-Qatari mediation efforts have continued in search of an imminent breakthrough to complete a prisoner exchange deal within the framework of a temporary truce amid mounting international warnings of a “disaster” if Israel invades the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
An informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo is intensifying its contacts with all parties in an attempt to bring views closer between Israel and Hamas, in preparation for an agreement on a truce that will also include a prisoner swap deal.
On Tuesday, Cairo hosted a quartet meeting that included the intelligence chiefs of Egypt, Israel, and the United States, in addition to the Prime Minister of Qatar, to discuss a proposal for a “truce” in Gaza that was developed during a similar meeting in Paris.
The Egyptian source pointed out that Hamas has set conditions in the prisoner deal that Israel finds difficult to accept, especially since it believes it has achieved a victory on the ground.
In turn, the Arab World Press reported on Thursday that the advisor to the head of the Hamas political bureau, Taher Al-Nono, accused Israel of “obstructing” an agreement on the exchange of detainees.
The Washington Post said Thursday that the administration of US President Joe Biden was working with Arab partners to complete a detailed and comprehensive plan to achieve long-term peace between Israel and the Palestinians, which includes a specific timetable for the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The newspaper stressed that this effort was directly linked to the cessation of military actions and the release of detainees held by the Hamas movement in Gaza, which is what the United States, Qatar and Egypt are currently negotiating.
But this proposal was met with strong criticism by the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, and the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who considered it a “reward for Hamas.”
Dr. Tariq Fahmy, professor of political science in Egypt, underlined that mediation efforts continue with the aim of bringing ideas closer between Hamas and Israel.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas initially presented conditions regarding the truce agreement, but the complications have now moved to the Israeli side, especially with the changes that have occurred on the ground.
The prime ministers of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand issued a joint statement on Thursday, in which they expressed deep concern about indications that Israel is planning to launch a ground attack on Rafah.
“We are gravely concerned by indications that Israel is planning a ground offensive into Rafah. A military operation into Rafah would be catastrophic... With the humanitarian situation in Gaza already dire, the impacts on Palestinian civilians from an expanded military operation would be devastating. We urge the Israeli government not to go down this path. There is simply nowhere else for civilians to go,” the statement said.
