Lapid talks Gaza hostages with Egyptian FM

Egypt is holding indirect talks between Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire deal that would include the release of the remains of two soldiers killed during the 2014 Gaza war and the release of two Israeli citizens captive there.

At issue is also a mechanism to prevent the Hamas seizure for military purposes of humanitarian aid and funds. Hamas is pressing in particular for the resumption of Qatari cash payments of $30 million, used for salaries and payments to needy families prior to the Gaza war in May.

Lapid and Shoukry also discussed humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as larger security issues such as terror threats.

The conversation between the two men, which lasted an hour, took place prior to Lapid’s anticipated meeting Monday with the European Union Foreign Affairs Council.

In describing the meeting on Twitter, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stressed “the need to resolve the current stalemate between the Palestinian and Israeli  sides, leading to just and comprehensive peace negotiations.” Lapid  previously spoke with Shoukry in June.

Separately, PA President Mahmoud Abbas placed a congratulatory call to his Israeli counterpart, Issac Herzog, who entered office just last week.

Herzog told Abbas he planned to preserve the open dialogue between the two offices, just as his predecessors had done, the office of the presidency said. It added that Herzog had spoken of the need to advance relations and to maintain the hope for peace between the two peoples living side by side.

The meeting and the call are part of a flurry of diplomatic activity that has occurred in recent weeks with the swearing-in of the new government.

King Abdullah of Jordan met separately two weeks ago with Abbas and with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. Both Bennett and Abdullah are due to make separate visits to Washington this summer to meet with US President Joe Biden. Bennett has also spoken by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.