Mid-level Israeli team heads to Cairo to assess Hamas position, Israeli official says

JERUSALEM: A team of mid-ranking Israeli officials will go to Cairo in the next few hours to assess whether Hamas can be persuaded to shift on its latest ceasefire offer, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday, reiterating that the proposal as it currently stands was unacceptable to Israel.

Hamas reportedly accepts ceasefire plan proposed by mediators

“This delegation is made up of mid-level envoys. Were there a credible deal in the offing, the principals would be heading the delegation,” the official told Reuters.

Earlier, Hamas informed Qatar and Egypt that they had agreed to accept the ceasefire plan proposed by the mediators, as per a report by Al Jazeera on Sunday, citing Hamas sources.

According to the plan disclosed by Al Jazeera, Hamas agreed to reach a three-stage ceasefire with Israel including Israeli army’s withdrawal from the Necharim Corridor, a permanent ceasefire, and the end of the Israeli siege on Gaza.

However, many unnamed Israeli officials told local media that the draft ceasefire agreement that Hamas had reportedly accepted was not a draft proposed by Israel, and had unilaterally been modified by Egypt.

Gaza ceasefire uncertain, Israel to continue Rafah assault

Israeli media reported that Israel’s war cabinet met on Sunday evening. Members of the cabinet stated that if there is no progress in ceasefire negotiations within a short time period, the Israeli army may launch military operations against Rafah within a week.