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Photo: Shahar Levi/Defense Ministry
Gaza situation assessment
Photo: Shahar Levi/Defense Ministry

Israeli official tells LA Times: Gaza ceasefire deal 'virtually done'

As Defense Minister Lieberman is set to discuss easing Gaza restrictions after 2 days of quiet on border, Hamas officials hold talks in Cairo about ceasefire agreement, while PLO expected to convene Wednesday to discuss matter.

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is "virtually done," an Israeli official told the Los Angeles Times on Monday.

 

 

The Hamas leadership continues holding talks in Cairo on the reported deal, which includes a ceasefire with Israel and resuming the reconciliation process between Hamas and Fatah.

 

On Wednesday the heads of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are scheduled to meet in Ramallah for a discussion about the deal as well.

 

Defense Minister Lieberman, center, with IDF chief Eisenkot holding situation assessment (Photo: Shahar Levi/Defense Ministry)
Defense Minister Lieberman, center, with IDF chief Eisenkot holding situation assessment (Photo: Shahar Levi/Defense Ministry)
 

In Israel, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and the heads of the IDF are set to meet Tuesday at noon to assess the situation and decided whether to ease some restrictions on Gaza after two days of complete quiet on the volatile border.

 

After weeks of regular exchanges of fire, no mortars or incendiary balloons have been fired at Israel from Gaza for the past two days. Security officials said that the aim of easing the restrictions is to show the people of Gaza that quiet is rewarded accordingly.

 

Israel is expected to expand the Gaza fishing perimeter and re-open the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the proviso that the border remains quiet.

 

This move appears to be part of the understandings reached between the two sides with the mediation of Egypt and of UN envoy to the region Nickolay Mladenov.

 

Saleh al-Arouri and Ismail Haniyeh meet in Gaza (צילום: EPA)
Saleh al-Arouri and Ismail Haniyeh meet in Gaza (צילום: EPA)

 

The Hamas delegation to Cairo is headed by the organization's deputy chairman Saleh al-Arouri and includes very senior officials. The delegation arrived in the Egyptian capital a week and a half ago after a series of discussions in Gaza, which saw the entire Hamas political leadership under one roof.

 

In tandem with the talks in Cairo, Hamas is also holding discussions with the other Palestinian factions in the strip about the ceasefire with Israel. Hamas wants the approval of the other factions to the deal, even though they are not part of any of the fundamental discussions about it.

 

The ceasefire agreement is complex and includes several stages. The first stage entails the gradual return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza with it taking control over some of the institutions in the strip. This point is still under negotiations between Fatah and Hamas.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.14.18, 10:18
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