White House Announces Advancements in Discussions in Cairo Regarding a Ceasefire in Gaza
Kirby deemed the discussions in Cairo on Thursday as a prelude to potential future negotiations. As per him, CIA Director William Burns is partaking in the fresh round of discussions happening in the Egyptian capital.
The Israeli contingent in Cairo consists of intelligence chiefs David Barnea and Ronen Bar. As per the government spokesperson Omer Dostri, they've ventured there to progress on a deal for the liberation of Israeli prisoners held in the Gaza Strip.
Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas are not engaging in direct negotiations; instead, the intermediaries are the USA, Qatar, and Egypt. The Israeli negotiation squad had previously attended the talks in Doha, but Hamas opted out and didn't dispatch a delegate to Cairo.
The recent talks proceed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to the region and a phone conversation between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With over ten months of strife, Biden prompted Netanyahu on Wednesday to reach an agreement promptly, post Blinken's departure from the region without a tangible agreement.
The Israeli government announced its intent to uphold the ceasefire agreements, stressing the importance of maintaining peace after the recent hostilities. In light of this, the Israeli delegation in Cairo is strongly advocating for the implementation of the ceasefire, aiming to facilitate the release of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
