By Shahnoor Saqib
Signs of modest progress as Israel, Egypt discuss future of latter’s Gaza border
Some signs of measured optimism emerged on Friday after talks in Cairo wrapped up the night before, as negotiators work to find a compromise on the deployment of IDF troops along the Gaza-Egypt border in the event of a hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas.
The talks in Cairo on Thursday were “constructive,” an unnamed source familiar with the issue told Army Radio after Israel’s high-level negotiating team returned from Egypt.
According to the report, progress was made in closing gaps with Cairo over the Rafah Border Crossing, which has been shuttered since Israel occupied the Palestinian side of the Gaza-Egypt border in May.
“There has been progress made,” said a White House spokesman on Friday in a briefing with reporters.
Though a deal will ultimately have to be made between Israel and Hamas, discussions this week centered on finding a formula that Jerusalem and Cairo could agree upon. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that an Israeli presence on the Philadelphi Corridor — the 14-kilometer (9-mile) buffer strip that separates Egypt from Israel and Gaza Strip — is vital to preventing Hamas from re-arming, while Hamas and Egypt want to see Israeli forces withdraw entirely.
In his phone call with Netanyahu on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden asked the premier to pull Israeli forces back from a 1- to-2-kilometer section of the border road, according to Axios. The section is adjacent to the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp near the coast, where many Gazan refugees have taken shelter.
Citing three Israeli officials, Axios said that Netanyahu agreed to pull back from one IDF position. The official said that in response, Biden backed Netanyahu’s demand that Israeli troops continue to hold the rest of the border in the first stage of a deal.
In his phone call with Netanyahu on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden asked the premier to pull Israeli forces back from a 1- to-2-kilometer section of the border road, according to Axios. The section is adjacent to the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp near the coast, where many Gazan refugees have taken shelter.
Citing three Israeli officials, Axios said that Netanyahu agreed to pull back from one IDF position. The official said that in response, Biden backed Netanyahu’s demand that Israeli troops continue to hold the rest of the border in the first stage of a deal.
The Israeli team in Cairo was led by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and included Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, head of the IDF General Staff Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.
“There has been progress made,” said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. “We need now for both sides to come together and work toward implementation.”
The Israeli team in Cairo was led by Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and included Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, head of the IDF General Staff Strategy and Third-Circle Directorate, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel.
“There has been progress made,” said National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. “We need now for both sides to come together and work toward implementation.”
