Egypt Seeks Flexibility From Israel And Hamas In Cease-fire Talks

On Friday, Egypt’s foreign ministry stated that Hamas and Israel must show flexibility if they are to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange in the seven-month war in the Gaza Strip.

The transcript of a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that both diplomats agreed on the importance of urging the parties to show flexibility and make all the necessary efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement and put an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.

Hamas announced early Friday that its delegation at ceasefire talks this week in Cairo had left the city for Doha, saying Israel had rejected the proposal submitted by the mediators and raised objections to it.

Hamas went on to say that it supported the proposal, stating that the ball is now completely in the hands of the occupation.

Israeli negotiators have also left Cairo.

“The talks were in a delicate phase, with Cairo expressing fears that a full-scale Israeli incursion into the crowded Gazan city of Rafah, which sits on Egypt’s border, could threaten the stability and security of the region”, the statement reads.

According to the US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Blinken informed Shoukry that the United States does not support a major military operation in Rafah and opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

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