For the first time since its men seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas announced on Monday that it would not oppose the return of forces loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to the Rafah border crossing.
The announcement came as Israel and Hamas launched indirect talks in Cairo in a bid to reach an agreement over a long-term cease-fire.
The announcement also came following unconfirmed reports that the Egyptians would agree to the deployment of some 1,000 PA policemen along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Izzat al-Risheq, one of the Hamas officials to the Cairo talks, said that his movement was not opposed to the idea of placing the Rafah terminal under the control of Abbas loyalists – but only on the basis of “partnership” with the PA.
“We have notified President Abbas and the brothers in the Palestinian Authority that we are ready as of now to hand over the Rafah terminal to President Abbas,” al-Risheq said.
The Hamas official said that his movement also had no objections to Abbas and the PA overseeing the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
“We support the formation of a national body headed by a clean, transparent and professional personality” to be in charge of the reconstruction,” he added.
“Everyone is facing a crisis; Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. International and regional realities have changed and we must interact with these circumstances for the sake of our people and cause.”
Azzam al-Ahmed, a senior Fatah official and head of the Palestinian delegation to the cease-fire talks, said that the PA and all its institutions would be responsible for the implementation of any agreement that is reached under the auspices of the Egyptians.
The PA would also be in charge of renovating the Gaza Strip, he said.
The indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are being held under the auspices of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service. The Egyptians are hoping to reach an agreement before the expiration of the latest cease-fire, which went into effect on Sunday midnight.
No details were available about the results of Monday’s talks in Cairo.
However, unnamed Palestinian sources were quoted as saying that so far no progress has been achieved at the Cairo talks.
The sources told the Palestinian daily Al-Quds that in wake of Israel’s response to the demands presented by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, “the talks are headed toward failure.”
According to the sources, Israel has rejected the Palestinians’ demand to open the Erez and Karni border crossings indefinitely to individuals and goods.
Israel agreed, however, to keep the Kerem Shalom border crossing open and to increase the number of trucks loaded with food and goods permitted into the Gaza Strip, the sources said.
As for the Rafah border crossing, Israel’s reply was that it had nothing to do with this issue, the sources added. On the other hand, the Egyptians said that they would be prepared to reopen the Rafah terminal provided such a move does not affect security in Sinai.
The sources said that Israel has expressed strong opposition to the opening of the airport and seaport in the Gaza Strip.
With regards to Hamas’ demand that Israel release Palestinian prisoners who were detained over the past two months in the West Bank, the sources said that the Israelis have agreed to free those who were part of the Schalit prisoner exchange.
Israel has also agreed, the sources claimed, to release the fourth batch of prisoners who were arrested before the signing of the Oslo Accords and who were supposed to be freed earlier this year as part of a US-sponsored agreement between Israel and the PA, but only in return for the bodies of two IDF soldiers killed during Operation Protection Edge.
Also Monday, Hamas’ armed wing, Izaddin al-Qassam, said it was prepared to provide information about the fate of the two soldiers in exchange for a list with the names of Israeli “collaborators” in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.