American-Egyptian attempts to start new talks on Gaza

Egyptian media reported that Assistant US Secretary of State Thomas Caterman met on Monday with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri in Cairo.

Ambassador Rakha Hassan, Egyptian deputy foreign minister, said that the aim of the meeting was to push ahead a new round of indirect talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis in an effort to reach a solution on the outstanding issues between both sides, including the seaport and airport.

Rakha Hassan said that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had made no gains since the war on Gaza. He had suffered a “clear loss” despite [Israel’s] military superiority.

Hassan went on to note that Netanyahu was trying to compensate for his defeat by committing further violations in order to satisfy the Israeli Jewish extremist. “Doing this, he [Netanyahu] is defying the international position, which opposes the Zionist violations,” he said.

The ambassador said that it will be possible for Egypt to prepare for the two-state solution and conclude the conflict, noting this demand is supported by the West, Palestine and Israel.

Egyptian political analyst Kamal Habib said that the US and Israel are trying to start peace talks after reaching a long-term ceasefire.

Habib stressed that there is no choice for the two sides other than a long-term ceasefire and the discussion on the outstanding issues such as the seaport, airport secure aviation and establishing secure passages to connect Gaza with other parts of Palestine.

He advised the Palestinian factions to keep united in order for the talks to be successful.