Following reports of a new ceasefire being mediated by Egypt, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported that they had yet to agree to the deal.
JERUSALEM POST STAFFPublished: MAY 12, 2023 20:44MAY 13, 2023 08:54
Egypt has reportedly offered a revised ceasefire deal to both Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza on Friday, according to Hebrew media reports.
Israeli sources reportedly told Walla that the Egyptian offer is more in line with Israel’s standing than previous deals and that it is being considered.
On Friday, Qatari news channel Al-Arabi reported that Egypt’s proposal referred to a temporary and humanitarian ceasefire starting at midnight, in which the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings would be opened to traffic – while at the same time, medical equipment would be brought into the Gaza Strip, Hebrew media reported.
However, an Islamic Jihad spokesperson told Al-Arabi on Saturday morning that no ceasefire agreement had been reached.
“We have not reached agreements regarding a temporary ceasefire with Egypt, the talks will continue,” he said.
“Israel wants peace in exchange for peace without ending the targeted killings,” Ynet reported the spokesperson as saying.
Recent Egyptian efforts to negotiate a ceasefire
Egypt had previously sent a delegation to Israel on Thursday to continue to push for an end to Operation Shield and Arrow.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said his country’s “efforts in relation to the escalation in the Gaza Strip have not yet yielded the desired fruits and results. His Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, had said prior that a ceasefire proposal was sent by Egypt and was under consideration by the defense establishment.
However, efforts led by Egypt for a ceasefire eventually collapsed on Wednesday evening because the Islamic Jihad demanded that Israel promise to stop targeted assassinations of senior terrorists – to which Israel declined.
Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.
Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-742875.
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