During the summer of 2014, Israel and Hamas were at war, Operation Protective Edge. Now there are reports that indirect negotiations are taking place between Israel and Hamas towards signing a long-term agreement.

With a Hamas delegation heading to Egypt, speculation of such talks is increasing. In a statement made to the media Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is says “If negotiations are necessary, the must be indirect”.

Haniyeh heads the delegation and he will meeting with the head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service Khaled Fawzy, Fawzy will then travel to Turkey and Qatar, who mediated the impending agreement. There are also reports that an Israeli delegation met with Egyptian security officials in Cairo last week. That delegation was headed by Yitzchak Molcho, a personal emissary of PM Netanyahu.

Reports state Hamas will agree to a 7-10 year ceasefire in return for Israel lifting the 8-year marine blockade on Gaza and permit the establishment of a naval passageway between Gaza and Cyrus. There may also be a prisoner exchange agreement as well. This follows months of indirect talks involving former Quarter Mideast Envoy Tony Blair. Reports state Blair recently met for a second time in as many months with Haniyeh in Qatar to discuss the brewing agreement.

Amid the reports of indirect talks, the Prime Minister’s Office released the following statement on Monday, 2 Elul. “Israel would like to officially clarify that it is not holding any meetings with Hamas, neither directly, nor via other countries, nor via intermediaries. As for relations with Turkey, agreement is still far off.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)