Mediators plan to move ahead with a summit next week in pursuit of a cease-fire agreement, officials said. “The process is moving forward,” a White House national security spokesman told reporters.The New York Times reports that mediators are working towards a summit next week to advance a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, according to Israeli officials. This comes after Israeli security chiefs sought Egyptian approval for an Israeli military presence along Gaza’s border with Egypt in the postwar period.

The issue of an Israeli presence in the border area has been a major point of contention in the ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been working for months to keep the talks alive.

Hamas has consistently rejected the idea of an Israeli presence in the border area, insisting that any deal to end the war must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argues that the tunnels in the area, known as the Philadelphi Corridor, have been used for weapons smuggling into Gaza and that abandoning it would allow Hamas to quickly rearm.

Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has also expressed concerns about an Israeli presence in the area, citing national security concerns and potential strain on Egyptian-Israeli relations. They have also stated that they have already taken steps to destroy tunnels and prevent smuggling.

Despite these challenges, diplomats have been working towards finding a resolution, with moments of optimism and deadlock. However, little has been said publicly about the talks. On Thursday, Israeli security chiefs traveled to Cairo for further discussions with Egyptian mediators. American officials, including C.I.A. director William J. Burns and President Biden’s Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, were also present, according to the White House.

White House national security spokesman John F. Kirby stated that “the process is moving forward” and that it is progressing as previously outlined. This comes after Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s recent trip to Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, where he presented an American proposal aimed at bridging the differences between Israel and Hamas. While Israel has reportedly accepted the plan, Hamas has rejected it, and both sides have stated that there are still major issues to be resolved.

During the meeting, Mossad intelligence agency head David Barnea presented new maps outlining a potential redeployment of Israeli forces along the Philadelphi Corridor, according to two Israeli officials familiar with the matter. However, no further details were provided on the proposal.

Egyptian officials have not commented on the meeting, but their stance on the corridor has been clear. They have consistently considered it a sensitive issue and have previously expressed their opposition to an Israeli presence in the area. 

Source:Read More