Hamas: Possibility to reach a deal closer than ever if Israel stops setting new conditions

Delegations of leaders from Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine met yesterday in Cairo to discuss the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

In a readout of the meeting, Hamas says the possibility of reaching a deal “is closer than ever if the enemy stops setting new conditions.”

All three terror groups are believed to be holding hostages throughout Gaza.

The factions “stressed everyone’s keenness to stop the aggression against our people,” the Hamas statement says, apparently referring to its demand for a permanent ceasefire.

The nature of the ceasefire deal is the main issue of contention in the talks, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to the fighting, while Israel is seeking a temporary pause during which some of the hostages would be released followed by a resumption of its fighting in order to finish dismantling the terror group’s military and governing capabilities, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel earlier this week.

Israel has sought to have the agreement refer to the ceasefire as one that “end[s] the military operation,” while Hamas is insisting that the text states that the ceasefire will “end the war.”

The readout says that the sides expressed appreciation for the Egyptian effort to strike a reconciliation deal between the various Palestinian factions — an initiative that has once again stalled due to disagreements between bitter rivals Hamas and Fatah.

The delegations agreed to hold another meeting as soon as possible.