Egyptian officials not optimistic ceasefire-hostage deal can be reached

Key mediator Egypt expresses skepticism as more details emerge of the proposal meant to bridge gaps in ceasefire-hostage release talks between Israel and Hamas, a day before negotiations were expected to resume in Cairo.

The challenges around the so-called bridging proposal appear to undermine the optimism for an imminent agreement that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken carried into his latest Mideast visit this week. Diplomatic efforts had redoubled as fears grow of a wider regional war after the recent targeted killings of Hamas’s leader in Tehran, and a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and threats of retaliation against Israel.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied it played a role in the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, but took responsibility for the drone strike that killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Officials in Egypt, in its unique role as both a mediator and affected party since it borders Gaza, tell The Associated Press that the Hamas terror group will not agree to the bridging proposal for a number of reasons — ones in addition to the long-held wariness over whether a deal would truly remove Israel forces from Gaza and end the war.

One Egyptian official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, says the bridging proposal requires the implementation of the deal’s first phase, which has Hamas releasing the most vulnerable civilian hostages captured in its October 7 massacre that sparked the war. Parties during the first phase would negotiate the second and third phases with no “guarantees” to Hamas from Israel or mediators.

“The Americans are offering promises, not guarantees,” the official says. “Hamas won’t accept this, because it virtually means Hamas will release the civilian hostages in return for a six-week pause of fighting with no guarantees for a negotiated permanent ceasefire.”

He also says the proposal doesn’t clearly say Israel will withdraw its forces from two strategic corridors in Gaza, the Philadelphi Corridor alongside Egypt and the Netzarim Corridor east to west across the territory. Israel offers to downsize its forces in the Philadelphi Corridor, with “promises” to withdraw from the area, he says.

“This is not acceptable for us and of course for Hamas,” the Egyptian official says.