Hamas directly rejected the Mossad chief’s proposal

Last Updated on September 6, 2024 9:41 am

Hamas has reacted sharply to the comments of David Barney, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, about the Philadelphia Corridor in besieged Gaza.

A top leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization told Al Mayadeen that Barnea had told mediators that Israeli forces would be “withdrawn from the Philadelphia Corridor in the second phase of the agreement”. Which is not acceptable from Hamas.

The Hamas leader said that Hamas wants the occupying forces to withdraw their troops from the Philadelphia Corridor in the first phase. Because there is no reliable guarantee of reaching the second phase of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel Ten reported that the United States, Egypt and Qatar are preparing a detailed plan for a cease-fire and hostage exchange agreement, which will likely be revealed in a statement by US President Joe Biden later this week.

Negotiations on new contracts

Israel has agreed to withdraw troops from the Philadelphia Corridor as part of the second phase of the prisoner exchange deal, Mossad chief David Barnea recently told mediators. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant about retaining control over the corridor.

Netanyahu’s office, however, did not deny this information. However, it said that the Israeli cabinet is not yet obligated to discuss any aspects of the second phase of the agreement.

In this regard, Israel’s Makan Channel website reported that the United States, Egypt and Qatar recently began important talks to create a framework for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

The Israeli site said the negotiators plan to release the fundamentals through President Biden by next Friday.

It is mainly for this reason that Barnea went to Doha last Monday. Where the discussion is likely to be held in the coming days.

A source in the mediators said Netanyahu’s government was pushing to maintain an Israeli military presence in the Philadelphia Corridor during the first phase of the deal. This includes reducing the number of troops. And in the second phase, a complete withdrawal of troops is planned.

In this context, Makan Channel quoted an Egyptian source as saying that Netanyahu is ready to harm Israel only for his own interests. Egypt’s recent focus has been on Netanyahu’s press conferences, where he brought Egypt to the center of publicity about the Philadelphia Corridor. Which seemed quite offensive on the part of the Egyptians. Source: Al-Mayadin