Egypt's confirmation of its rejection of Israel's presence on the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip and the Philadelphi Corridor coincided with efforts it is making in cooperation with the United States to end the war, and Israeli talk about concluding a truce in the Strip "soon."

On the Palestinian level, new meetings continued in Cairo between the Fatah and Hamas movements, to form an administrative committee for the sector to organize the sector’s affairs and close the gaps in the face of any Israeli obstacles.

Experts who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat believe that Egypt’s confirmation of its position comes amidst talk of a deal being made behind the scenes, and that there is a path that could lead to a “close truce.” Some of them expressed the belief that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reluctance to withdraw from the Rafah crossing was for local consumption, and will recede in the face of the Egyptian veto and American pressure to conclude a deal.”

During a meeting in Cairo with the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati reiterated “Egypt’s rejection of the Israeli military presence on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor (which has been ongoing since last May),” according to a press release from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a press conference held on the sidelines of the “Cairo Ministerial Conference to Enhance the Humanitarian Response in Gaza” on Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Minister revealed that “there are two delegations from Hamas and Fatah consulting to reach a common understanding in managing life affairs under the control of the Palestinian Authority,” stressing that “the Egyptian effort has not stopped for a moment in the communications to reach a deal and there are visions presented regarding the hostages and prisoners.”

Abdel-Ati revealed that “there are Egyptian ideas that Cairo is discussing with the Arab brothers regarding a ceasefire and what is called ‘the next day’,” stressing “working to open the Rafah crossing from the Palestinian side,” which Israel occupied last May, and Netanyahu has often expressed his refusal to withdraw from it, along with the Philadelphi corridor, throughout the past months.

This is the third meeting between Fatah and Hamas in two months, after two similar meetings in Cairo in early October and November, to discuss the formation of an “administrative body” for the Gaza Strip, called the “Community Committee to Support the People of the Gaza Strip,” affiliated with the Palestinian Authority, which includes independent figures and is issued by presidential decree from President Mahmoud Abbas. It is responsible for managing civil affairs, providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, distributing it in the Strip, re-operating the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, and beginning the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the Israeli war, according to what Palestinian sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Big momentum

The academic specializing in Israeli affairs, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, believes that “these Egyptian statements regarding the Rafah crossing come within the framework of a great momentum that continues regarding reaching a truce agreement soon in Gaza, especially since Cairo is hosting the delegations of (Fatah) and (Hamas) to complete the formation of the Gaza administration in a way that guarantees and enhances the chances of reaching a truce for the next day, and that there is a party that Israel does not object to in taking over the crossing.”

“It does not seem that Netanyahu’s objections will be repeated this time in light of the continued Egyptian veto in light of the current changes, especially with the signing of the Lebanon truce agreement a few days ago,” according to the Egyptian academic, who said that Netanyahu “will ultimately yield to that card that he was trying to bargain with and use to address domestic public opinion, especially since the failure of the Israeli security presence in this axis has been proven.”

According to the Palestinian political analyst, Dr. Ayman Al-Raqab, “The current context of the Egyptian statements comes in light of a positive movement led by Egypt and Washington, and also talked about by Israel, which wants to reach a truce deal in light of the desire of President Joe Biden, who was freed from the presidential elections and is now pressuring Netanyahu.”

It is expected that Hamas and Fatah will reach an agreement in Cairo regarding the administration of Gaza, to give Cairo’s statements regarding the crossing and the axis a new boost that will enable it to enhance the chances of reaching a deal for the day after the war and handing over the administration of the crossing to the Palestinian Authority, as was the case before.

Egypt's renewal of its position on the crossing and the axis comes two days after what the American newspaper "Wall Street Journal" reported from sources about the occurrence of talks between Egypt and Israel last week to reopen the Rafah crossing, to increase the entry of aid into Gaza, and to move towards a ceasefire agreement, on the condition that the Palestinian Authority helps in managing the Palestinian side of the crossing, and the "Hamas" movement relinquishes its complete control over it, and that it be reopened in December, if an agreement is reached.

The atmosphere is ready

The Egyptian movement comes as Hamas leaders revealed on Monday that a delegation from the movement met with Egyptian officials on Sunday in Cairo and discussed with them ways to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, in addition to meeting with a delegation from the Fatah movement that was visiting Cairo and discussed with them “administration of the Gaza Strip” after the end of the war that has been ongoing for more than 13 months between Israel and Hamas, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

Israel is also talking about progress in the negotiations, according to what a source familiar with the details of the negotiations told the Israeli channel "Kan" on Monday, without clarifying the nature of the progress, but he spoke about Hamas accepting a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

During his meeting with the family of one of the kidnapped Israelis, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on Sunday that “there are negotiations behind the scenes regarding an exchange deal and the return of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, and I believe that concluding it is more possible than ever before.”

The White House announced on Wednesday that the United States is making new diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and agree to release the hostages held in the Gaza Strip, with the help of Turkey, Qatar and Egypt.

According to Al-Raqab, the atmosphere is now ready to move towards solutions and a gradual withdrawal starting from the Rafah and Philadelphi crossings, as well as the Palestinian Authority taking over the administration of the Gaza Strip away from Hamas after understandings. Thus, the truce may be imminent and the chances of reaching a solution the next day have become closer.

Anwar believes that the truce deal is maturing, and that the Israeli withdrawal in stages, especially from the crossing and the axis, has become the closest option, especially in light of the Israeli president’s statements supporting the truce agreement and that it is taking place behind the scenes.