Egypt to pressure Hamas to appease Biden

Cairo has decided to raise the rank of the delegation dealing with mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel, hoping to achieve better and swift results in favour of Israel by putting more pressure on the Palestinian resistance movement, Israeli media reported today.

This came following the latest round of indirect talks between Hamas and Israel in Cairo. Egypt hopes progress will be made in the negotiations prior to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s planned visit to Washington in order to win favour with American President Joe Biden.

Reports claim Egypt is pressuring Hamas to reduce the number of prisoners it seeks to see released in any prisoner swap deal with the occupation. This, Cairo hopes, will improve its standing in the US and lead Bennett to sing its praises in Washington.

Egypt is looking to reach at least a framework agreement on the prisoner swap with Hamas, as well as an arrangement coordinated with Israel to support Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in order to stop Hamas appearing as an important player in the Palestinian arena.

READ: In egypt, Israel discusses Hamas prisoner swap deal