Hamas and Fatah in talks with Egypt over Rafah crossing
Delegations from Fatah and Hamas are are discussing Egyptian proposals to re-open the Rafah crossing in Cairo, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council revealed on December 1st according to Middle East Monitor and agencies.
Abdullah Abdullah said: “Fatah is keen on an immediate end to the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and to quickly provide aid and begin reconstruction.”
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He added that “a delegation from Fatah is in Cairo with a Hamas delegation, discussing Egyptian proposals related to opening the Rafah crossing (between Gaza and Egypt) and for the Palestinian Authority to manage it from the Palestinian side.”
Egypt closed its side of the crossing following Israel’s takeover of Rafah in May. Abdullah did not go into detail as to what is contained in Egypt’s proposals.
The Wall Street Journal reported on November 30th that Cairo submitted a proposal including a 6-day truce, a prison exchange, a maintaining of Israel’s military presence in Gaza and a re-opening of the Rafah crossing in December.
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The proposal would allow for the Palestinian Authority to manage the Palestinian side of the crossing with European supervision, overseen by Israel, with Hamas completely withdrawing from the crossing. The concerned parties made no comment on the report.
According to press reports, a Hamas delegation headed by Khalil Al-Hayya, one of the group’s five current leaders, arrived in Cairo on November 30th to meet with the head of Egyptian General Intelligence, Hassan Rashad.
Media sources reported on December 1st that Cairo is trying to strengthen reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, while pushing towards reaching a prisoner exchange deal. Reports also say that they sent a delegation to Israel last week.
Israeli media reports said that Hamas is ready to accept a “gradual agreement” like the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and Israel, which was agreed last week.
Middle East Monitor, AP, Wall Street Journal
