Here, 2:09 pm
A Hamas delegation discussed with Egyptian officials in Cairo a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, two officials from the Palestinian Islamist movement told AFP on Monday.
A meeting was also held on Sunday under the auspices of Egypt between representatives of the Palestinian Islamist movement and the rival Fatah group to address the question of governance of Gaza once the war with Israel ends, said a of these two officials and Jamal Obeid, member of the Fatah leadership in Gaza.
The Hamas delegation met with the head of Egyptian intelligence, General Hassan Rashad, and Egyptian intelligence officials, and “discussed ways to stop the war and aggression (Israeli editor’s note), to deliver aid and to open the Rafah crossing point, closed since May on the border between Gaza and Egypt, a member of the delegation told AFP, on condition of anonymity.
Palestinians rush to the aid of a child injured during an Israeli strike in Gaza.
AFP
“Egypt, Qatar and Turkey are making significant efforts to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement” in Gaza, said a second member of the Hamas delegation.
He added that he expected “the United States and the international community to put pressure on (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to stop the war and reach an agreement, as happened in Lebanon.”
Egyptian authorities have made no mention of these meetings, which occur after the entry into force in Lebanon of a truce between Israel and the Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah, sponsored by Washington and Paris.
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