A Hamas delegation along with Qatar and Egypt will also arrive in Cairo on Monday to mediate talks regarding the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.
According to Arab media, Hamas has agreed in principle to the release of at least 33 hostages. The hostages include women, the old, the sick and me, people above fifty years of age. Hamas has demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners lodged in Israeli jails. This also includes people arrested for serious crimes including murder.
Israeli Defense Ministry sources told IANS that they have informed the mediators that the IDF will not be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.
It may be recalled that Israel has already called on the Hamas side not to drag its feet on the release of hostages and said that Rafah ground action would be imminent if Hamas backs out of the agreement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already deployed their elite Nehal Brigade to the Rafah area and are awaiting the outcome of talks in Cairo.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has already shared the country's fears of an Israeli attack in the Rafah area with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his last visit to Cairo.
Blinken has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit and will communicate with mediators from both Egypt and Qatar regarding a temporary ceasefire.
According to Arab media, Hamas has agreed in principle to the release of at least 33 hostages. The hostages include women, the old, the sick and me, people above fifty years of age. Hamas has demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners lodged in Israeli jails. This also includes people arrested for serious crimes including murder.
Israeli Defense Ministry sources told IANS that they have informed the mediators that the IDF will not be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip.
It may be recalled that Israel has already called on the Hamas side not to drag its feet on the release of hostages and said that Rafah ground action would be imminent if Hamas backs out of the agreement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already deployed their elite Nehal Brigade to the Rafah area and are awaiting the outcome of talks in Cairo.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has already shared the country's fears of an Israeli attack in the Rafah area with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his last visit to Cairo.
Blinken has arrived in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit and will communicate with mediators from both Egypt and Qatar regarding a temporary ceasefire.
