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The Jerusalem Post

Israeli officials in Egypt to discuss Gaza hostage release deal - report

 
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (right) speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting ahead of the UN General Assembly last September (2017). (photo credit: REUTERS)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (right) speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting ahead of the UN General Assembly last September (2017).
(photo credit: REUTERS)

Negotiations on hostage release had originally been suspended after the assassination of Saleh al-Arouri.

An Israeli security delegation reportedly arrived in Cairo on Monday to negotiate the release of the hostages, according to Israeli media reports citing the pro-Qatari Al-Arabi Al-Jadid newspaper. 

The resumption of negotiations comes amid mounting internal and external pressure to end the war and for Hamas to return the hostages. 

Negotiations had been suspended after the assassination of the deputy head of the political wing of Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri , in Beirut, a week ago. An Israeli security delegation cut short the visit it was making to Cairo in the wake of the Egyptian decision.

Who was Saleh al-Arouri?

Arouri, 57, was reportedly the deputy to Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, and was responsible for the military activities of the terror organization in the West Bank.

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Along with Arouri, six other Hamas members, some of them senior, were killed in the attack on the offices of the terrorist organization in an area considered to be a Hezbollah stronghold in the Lebanese capital.

 Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (right) (credit:  YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 and ARAB MEDIA)
Hamas leader Saleh Al-Arouri (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (right) (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90 and ARAB MEDIA)

Historically, Egypt has been a key negotiator between Israel and Hamas in conflict, and since December, has proposed ceasefire deals to Israel and Hamas in exchange for Hamas releasing hostages. The parties have not yet agreed to any terms.

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