New ceasefire proposal floated in Cairo

Head of Palestinian intelligence Majed Faraj turns up unexpectedly in Cairo just after the end of a meeting between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Mashaal in Doha, Qatar.

According to the al-Mayadeen news station, Faraj brings with him to Cairo a draft for a ceasefire that is acceptable to Hamas. The deal is based on the proposal by UN General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon for a long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire along with guarantees for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

Ban’s proposal is also based on the Egyptian mediation for a ceasefire — which first calls for an end to the fighting and afterwards consideration of further steps. According to the agreement between Mashaal and senior Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh, the Palestinian national unity government will be the one to guarantee the removal of the blockade on Gaza together with the US government.

According to reports from Reuters, Egypt agrees to make changes to its ceasefire proposal to meet demands from Hamas.

Among other things it is agreed that in the future the opening of the Rafah crossing is to be reviewed, the wages of officials will be transferred, and there will be an easing on the transfer of goods from Israel to the Gaza Strip. According to the plan, Abbas, Kerry, and Ban are to give a press conference tomorrow in Cairo and announce the ceasefire.

— Avi Issacharoff