Israel will receive Hamas response to ceasefire proposals on Sunday

Amos Gilad, chief advisor at the Israeli Prime Minister Office, will travel to Egypt on Sunday to receive Hamas's response to the ceasefire proposals made earlier this week. Sources close to the negotiations lowered expectations recently, noting the differences between the sides on several key issues. Palestinian officials familiar with the talks said Israel offered to hold back military activity, open what was previously the main freight crossing from Israel to Gaza at Karni, boost supplies into Gaza and to increase fuel shipments. However, Israel was reluctant to approve an immediate reopening of Rafah, the main point of contact for Gazans with Egypt. Officials in Jerusalem said Israel would only agree to a truce in return for an end to the rocket launchings and other attacks from Gaza. It added that Israel might agree to lift the blockade on the coastal territory and the crossings only after it was certain that the truce was holding.

Another issue that places an obstacle is Israel's demand that substantial progress be made toward the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. According to Egyptian sources, Hamas delegates were refusing at first to agree to tie the prisoner exchange deal with the ceasefire, but Egyptian pressure was able to change their position. It is assumed that some progress has nonetheless been made, otherwise no invitation would have been made for the Israeli negotiator to visit Cairo.

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