3 weeks ago
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Even though no breakthrough was reached in last week’s top-level talks, the White House described them as constructive read more
 "Even as Israeli demands complicate Gaza peace talks, working group-level negotiations continue in Cairo")
The mediators the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have floated a new bridging proposal for a deal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages (Representative Photo, Credit: Reuters)
Even as new Israeli demands have complicated Gaza peace talks, working group-level negotiations are continuing in Egyptian capital Cairo.
For four days last week, the Israeli negotiators led by Mossad chief David Barnea were in Cairo to hold indirect talks with Hamas mediate by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. Even though the talks have been described as constructive, no breakthrough was reached.
Now, White House National Security Spokesperson John Kirby has said that working-group level talks are going on to smoothen out specific issues, according to The Times of Israel.
Kirby described the talks held last week at the top level as “constructive”, as per the newspaper.
Kirby further said, “The talks actually progressed to a point where they felt like the next logical step was to have working groups at lower levels to sit down to hammer out these finer details. We expect that these working group discussions will at least take place over the next few days, but whether it goes longer, or could end sooner, I think really is going to be up to those in the room.”
A deal for the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and release of hostages remains elusive over demands inserted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the original peace proposal outlined by US President Joe Biden in May. Among other demands, the most contentious are to remain in control of the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border and the east-west Netzarim Corridor running through Gaza.
What issues are working groups discussing?
Kirby said that one of the issues being tackled by the working groups is the prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, according to The Times of Israel.
Kirby said that details of how many hostages and what kind of hostages will be exchanged are being worked out along with the pace at which they would be exchanged.
Separately, Israeli outlet Channel 12 reported that the working groups are engaged on less thorny issues and not the hotly-contested issues like the Philadelphi and the Netzarim corridors.
The report further said US mediators are hopeful about reaching agreements on other less thorny matters first, such as Israel’s ability to veto the release of some prisoners and exile others and how many living hostages will be freed in the first six-week-long phase of the truce.
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English (US) ·