The US and Hamas representatives held direct talks in Cairo for the first time since the Gaza ceasefire agreement, sources said, CNN reports.
– The meeting was held as part of attempts to advance the next steps of the fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip brokered by the US.
– The US delegation was led by adviser Aryeh Lightstone, and the representative of the Gaza Board of Peace, Nickolay Mladenov, also participated in the talks. The parties discussed the implementation of the commitments of the first phase of the agreement and the transition to the second phase.
– According to the sources, Hamas insists that Israel must fully implement its commitments under the first phase, including the cessation of strikes and the expansion of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and only then proceed to discuss disarmament and other issues.
– A Hamas spokesperson said the proposed plan was unbalanced and prioritized Israel’s security over the humanitarian and political needs of the Palestinians.
– It is also reported that Mladenov conveyed Israel’s demand for Hamas to disarm and warned that if it was refused, the war could resume.
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