The minister of Egypt’s intelligence, Abbas Kamel, reportedly initiated contact with Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaderships regarding the revival of talks on a potential prisoner exchange deal with Israel, as per the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Al-Akhbar stated that Kamel urged both parties to promptly send a delegation to Egypt for discussions.
The newspaper also mentioned communication with the Qatari side, previously requested by the US to exert pressure on Hamas to accept a phased exchange plan, which was declined by the Hamas political leadership.
Recently, an Israeli security delegation presented Kamel with a “modified proposal” differing from previous ones, incorporating “new provisions concerning ceasefires, aid, and the exchange process,” as detailed by Al-Akhbar.
Reportedly, Cairo was informed that Hamas is disinclined to engage in negotiations unless presented with a proposal meeting its perceived “appropriate demands.”
