Ali Baraka, who is responsible for Hamas's foreign relations and is the organization's representative in Lebanon, commented on the negotiations regarding the release of the hostages. According to him, "Our demands are a permanent ceasefire, the opening of the Rafah crossing and an Arab-international commitment to the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip and the absolute release of all prisoners for all the hostages." Baraka added that "when Haniyeh arrives in Egypt, he will respond on behalf of the factions, and not only on behalf of Hamas." (Einav Halabi)