Senior US Officials in Cairo for Talks on Gaza Ceasefire-Hostage Deal
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Top US officials are in Cairo with senior Israeli and Egyptian security officials to discuss a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of around 120 hostages taken by Hamas from Israel to Gaza during the October 7 massacre, Axios reports.
CIA director Bill Burns and Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, arrived in the Egyptian capital on Monday. Israel’s delegation of senior officials headed by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar also arrived in Cairo on Monday.
Among the key issues being discussed in Cairo are Egypt-Gaza border security arrangements and the reopening of the Rafah crossing. These issues are understood to be central to a potential hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement Sunday that Israel will not tolerate any smuggling of weapons to Hamas from the Egypt-Gaza border.
Another central issue to be discussed is how to block Hamas terrorists from returning to terrorist operations in Gaza once a deal has been reached.
Once the talks in Cairo have concluded, McGurk is expected to travel to Israel for talks with PM Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Burns will travel to Qatar to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, the director of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and Israeli Mossad chief David Barnea, for further talks on the hostage-ceasefire deal.
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