Egyptian delegation arrives in Israel to discuss framework for Gaza ceasefire

CAIRO – 26 April 2024: An Egyptian security delegation arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday to discuss a comprehensive framework for a ceasefire in Gaza, a high-level source said.

The delegation includes a group of specialists in the Palestinian file, the source added.

The visit comes amid concerns of a planned Israeli invasion in Rafah, which borders Egypt and is currently home to over half of Gaza's population, about 1.4 million Palestinians.

World countries, including Egypt, have consistently expressed their concerns regarding the planned operation due to its potential catastrophic impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and regional stability.

According to media reports citing officials, the Egyptian delegation aims to engage in talks on brokering a truce agreement between Hamas and Israel.

The discussions will primarily focus on the potential exchange of some captives held by Hamas in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners, media cited an Egyptian official as saying.

The delegation will also discuss the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.

The talks will then hopefully continue with the aim of bringing an end to the ongoing war, said the source.

The mediator's efforts will aim to find solutions that address the main demands of both parties, he added.

Objections on Rafah operation

Amid threats of launching the invasion, an Egyptian source previously emphasized that the presence of the Israeli army at the border with Egypt would constitute a violation of the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries.

Diaa Rashwan, Head of the State Information Service (SIS), stated on Tuesday that the Rafah operation would not effectively achieve the goals of returning captives or eliminating Hamas.

He also warned that such an operation would jeopardize 45 years of peace between Egypt and Israel.

The relentless Israeli airstrikes since October 7 have resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, with more than 77,000 injured, plunging the strip into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.

In recent months, Egypt, the US, and Qatar have acted as mediators between Hamas and Israel in a bid to achieve a ceasefire deal that allows further aid delivery and secure the release of over 100 captives still held by Hamas.

Successive rounds of talks in Paris, Doha, and Cairo, however, have not so far succeeded in brokering a deal, with significant gaps persisting between Hamas and Israel.