The great strategic changes of the past few days have had a profound impact on Hamas, which has agreed to give up what was one of the main demands in the negotiations with Israel, and to agree to the IDF’s presence in Gaza during the ceasefire, according to a report published by the Wall Street Journal this weekend. The report comes against the backdrop of contacts between Israel and Egypt in recent weeks and a renewed opening of the Rafah Crossing planned for the next few days.
According to the Journal, advanced discussions are taking place regarding the outline for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with the terrorist organization expressing its willingness for the first time to submit to this significant demand from Israel, which has so far encountered resistance. However, Hamas emphasizes that the release of the hostages in the framework of the deal will include the release of hundreds of terrorists.
According to the new plan, the proposal to stop the fighting includes at least 60 days, without requiring the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Gaza Strip, and while allowing the military force to be used when necessary during this time as well. The agreement includes the release of hostages, which will be carried out from the second week of the ceasefire.
The mediator – Egypt
Contacts between Egypt and Israel include discussions about opening the Rafah crossing to allow for the entry of additional humanitarian aid, which may form the basis for a broader agreement later on. Meanwhile, an Egyptian delegation visited Israel last week in order to advance the opening of the crossing in the coming days. The crossing was closed last May, when the military operation in Rafah began, during which the Philadelphi route was occupied by IDF forces.
It was also reported that senior Hamas figures were in Cairo last weekend and met with Egyptian officials. An official in Hamas said the delegation was in Cairo, but no further details were given. The terrorist organization expressed its desire to return to the negotiating table after the introduction of the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah last week, which took out Hamas’s great ally and left it isolated and shaky, and is ready to become more resilient than ever before, which may signal a strategic change of the first degree.
