A Palestinian source told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that Cairo will host a delegation from Hamas next week for talks aimed at advancing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
The source, who is close to Hamas, said the visit is expected to focus on the provisions of the second phase of the ceasefire deal, most notably finalizing the names of a technocratic committee to administer Gaza, in an effort to move forward with implementation of the agreement.
The talks will be led by senior Hamas figure and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, though no exact date for the meeting has been announced.
Two Palestinian sources close to Fatah also stressed the importance of Egypt’s role in shaping arrangements for the second phase of the deal, particularly in the face of obstacles posed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Tuesday, Netanyahu said the Rafah border crossing would not be reopened until the return of the last remaining body.
Israel’s public broadcaster reported that the Israeli premier is insisting the crossing between Gaza and Egypt remain closed until the body of the final Israeli captive held in the enclave, Ran Gvili, is returned.
He was quoted as saying that agreements with the US administration underpin this position.
The move marks a reversal from earlier expectations that the crossing would reopen at the start of the first phase of the Gaza agreement on Oct. 10.
It follows a report published Sunday by the Israeli daily Haaretz, which cited informed sources as saying the Rafah crossing was set to reopen soon in both directions, with European forces playing a main role in running it.
Those forces had already arrived in Israel and were ready to deploy in the area, it revealed.
