A senior Hamas official confirmed to AFP on Saturday that a delegation from the terror organization was headed to Cairo but noted that it would not participate in ceasefire talks.
Talks are expected to continue at an anticipated high-level summit in Cairo on Sunday.
Referring to the delegation, Izzat al-Rishq, a spokesperson for Hamas, reiterated on Saturday that the group was committed to US President Joe Biden’s July 2 proposal.
According to al-Rishq, the delegation, which Khalil al-Hayya will head, will arrive in the Egyptian capital in the evening to listen to the results of the negotiations that took place there.
“While Hamas confirms its readiness to implement what was agreed upon, it calls for pressure on the occupation to obligate it to implement this and stop obstructing reaching an agreement,” al-Rishq said.
“The delegation will meet with senior Egyptian intelligence officials to be briefed on developments in the ongoing round of Gaza ceasefire talks… but this does not mean it will take part in the negotiations,” the anonymous Hamas official who spoke to AFP said. “Hamas has said from the beginning that it will not participate in this round of negotiations, which began last week in Doha.”
Israeli, Hamas demands at odds
The official added that Hamas insists Israel completely withdraw from Gaza, including from the Philadelphi Corridor. Israel has categorically rejected this demand numerous times.
Despite the diametrically opposed positions of both sides, US National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said on Friday that hostage and ceasefire talks are ongoing.
During the Hamas delegation’s stay in Cairo, Egypt is expected to hand the Islamist group a new proposal regarding the Philadelphi Corridor, including the Rafah Crossing, which is located there.
However, although the White House has expressed that progress has been made in the talks, US and Israeli officials have warned that a deal may be close to failing.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.
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