Agence France-Presse quoted leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) today, Monday, as saying that a delegation from the movement met on Sunday evening in Cairo with a leadership delegation from the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and officials from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service to discuss ways to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

A Hamas leader said that the leadership delegation that arrived in Cairo on Saturday met with the head of Egyptian General Intelligence, Major General Hassan Rashad, and intelligence officials on Sunday, and “discussed ways to stop the war and aggression, bring aid into Gaza, and open the Rafah crossing” on the border between the Strip and Egypt.

The leader confirmed that Hamas "has not received any new offers or proposals regarding a ceasefire or a prisoner exchange deal, although the mediators' efforts are ongoing."

AFP quoted the Hamas leader as saying, "There is still no political will on the part of (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement," adding that Hamas "is ready based on the constants set by the resistance factions."

Deal constants

The leader stressed that these "constants" are represented by "the (Israeli) military withdrawal from the Strip, the return of the displaced, a serious deal to exchange prisoners, whether in one go or in two stages, the immediate entry of aid, and reconstruction."

The Hamas leader said that the movement "reaffirmed that it is open to discussing any ideas or suggestions, and that it is interested in stopping the war and aggression and reaching an agreement that guarantees the implementation of these constants."

Another Hamas leader said, "Egypt, Qatar and Turkey are making great efforts to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, but Netanyahu is still obstructing it to this day."

He pointed out that the Palestinian people "are waiting for American and international pressure on Netanyahu to stop the war of extermination and reach an agreement as happened in Lebanon," referring to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah last week.

Meeting with Fatah delegation

Also in Cairo, the delegation headed by Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya met with a leadership delegation from the Fatah movement that was visiting Cairo and discussed with them the "administration of the Gaza Strip" after the end of the aggression on the Strip.

The Hamas leader said that the movement's delegation also met with the Fatah delegation, led by PLO Executive Committee member Azzam al-Ahmad, "and discussed with him the arrangements for the internal Palestinian situation and the administration of the Gaza Strip once the war ends."

He stated that the discussions with Fatah were taking place "under Egyptian auspices" and "focused on forming an independent administrative committee to manage the sector and supervise aid, crossings and reconstruction, in agreement with all Palestinian factions."

Jamal Obeid, a member of the Fatah movement’s supreme leadership body in Gaza, confirmed in a phone call with Agence France-Presse that the meeting took place, considering that the meetings between the two movements are “important in order to put the Palestinian house in order.”

During a press conference on the sidelines of an international ministerial conference for relief to Gaza hosted by the Egyptian capital with the participation of 103 international and Arab delegations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati said today, Monday, that two delegations from the Hamas and Fatah movements are consulting in the capital Cairo to reach a common understanding regarding the administration of Gaza under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

The Egyptian Minister explained that there are two delegations from Hamas and Fatah in Cairo consulting to reach a common understanding on managing life affairs in Gaza under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

He stressed that there are ideas and visions being put forward regarding the release of prisoners in Gaza, the ceasefire, and the day after (the end of the aggression on the Strip).

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported earlier that Netanyahu held a meeting last night with ministers and the negotiating team tasked with concluding a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas to discuss opportunities to revive the exchange deal negotiations, while an informed source reported that Hamas is sticking to the condition of stopping the war on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a source familiar with the negotiations with Hamas as saying that Israel is not at a stage of optimism, but has made progress on the issue of prisoner exchange.