Sisi, Biden discuss mediation efforts of Gaza ceasefire as Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo

CAIRO – 24 August 2024: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from US President Joe Biden on Friday evening, discussing intensive efforts of mediation to reach a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip and a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel

The Egyptian Spokesman for the Presidency Ahmed Fahmy said the call came within the framework of the intensive mediation efforts exerted by the two countries to cease fire in the Gaza Strip and exchange hostages.

The two presidents reviewed developments in the negotiation round currently hosted by Cairo and stressed the importance of the concerned parties' commitment to overcoming obstacles and showing flexibility to complete the agreement, added Fahmy.

President Sisi was keen to emphasize that reaching an immediate ceasefire agreement is of utmost importance at this critical time, whether for the need to put an end to the catastrophic humanitarian suffering in the Strip, or to end escalation and spare the region the scourge of expanding the conflict, with its serious repercussions on all the peoples of the region.

The Two President’s call came following a visit by an Israeli delegation to Cairo where its members handed over Egypt maps of proposed stationing of Israeli soldiers along the Philadelphi Corridor between Egypt and the besieged Gaza Strip, BBC reported on Saturday.

The White House stated in a press release that the both Presidents addressed the “urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure under the comprehensive bridging proposal that is now in the table.”

The current proposal aims to “free the hostages, bring life-saving relief to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, and de-escalate regional tensions,” the US statement added, noting that they discussed the upcoming talks in Cairo and efforts to address any remaining obstacles to the deal.

Biden expressed gratitude to President El Sisi for his leadership, the White House said, adding that both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination directly and through their teams in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the White added that Joe Biden made another phone call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for the negotiations as well, on Friday evening.

Hamas delegation in Cairo

Meanwhile, a delegation from Hamas is scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Saturday evening to be briefed on the ongoing negotiations and be updated on the introduced maps by the Israeli side, said Hamas member Izzat Al-Rishq in a statement on Saturday.

The Hamas delegation will be led by its member Khalil Al-Hayya will arrive in Cairo, at the invitation of the mediators in Egypt and Qatar, to listen to the results of the negotiations that took place in Cairo, Rishq added.

Rishq continued that Hamas confirms its commitment to what it agreed to on July 2, based on the Biden Declaration and the Security Council resolution.

“While Hamas confirms its readiness to implement what was agreed upon, it calls for pressure on the occupation and obligating it to implement this and stop obstructing reaching an agreement,” he said.

Media reported that Cairo has been hosting extensive discussions, on Friday and Saturday, to prepare for a new round of indirect talks on Sunday for reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner swap deal.

Last week in Doha, mediators from the United States submitted an Egyptian-Qatari backed proposal aimed at bridging remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas, with ongoing technical work to refine implementation details, focusing on humanitarian provisions, captive releases, and prisoner-related specifics.

Israel has increased its demands for a ceasefire, threatening to disrupt potential agreements by insisting on maintaining a military presence in the Philadelphi corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border and the Netzarim corridor dividing northern Gaza from the south.

Egypt has consistently insisted on a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Rafah crossing and the Philadelphi corridor.

Coordination with Israel for aid delivery via the Rafah crossing has been rebuffed by Egypt since Israeli forces assumed control over the Palestinian side of the crossing on May 7, resulting in aid blockades.