Egyptian security leaders have reached an “understanding” with Hamas negotiators from Gaza, according to a report in the Arabic-language edition of the London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat Arabic daily news outlet that quoted “Palestinian sources.”
According to the report, the sources confirmed Monday that Cairo handed Gaza-based Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar a list of security demands, including the extradition of 17 fugitives wanted on terrorism charges.
The list received by Sinwar from Egyptian intelligence personnel during his visit to Cairo reportedly stressed the need for the completion of “security understandings,” according to A-Sharq.
The source said Cairo listed four demands:
1. Extradition of 17 wanted terror fugitives
2. Protection of the border between Gaza and Sinai
3. Halt to smuggling of arms into Sinai, and
4. Security cooperation, which is to include reporting by Hamas to Cairo about all ‘elements’ passing through the tunnels into Gaza.
In exchange, Egypt pledged to facilitate freedom of movement across the borders, and to “address humanitarian cases,” in addition to supplying Gaza with badly needed electricity.
The Egyptian deal coincides with the removal of five Hamas leaders from Qatar, including Saleh al-Arouri, the founding commander of the Izz a-Din al-Qassam military wing of Hamas and who has been at the center of numerous terror attacks and plots against Israel. Al-Arouri, who spent 15 years in prison, was also involved in the 2014 abduction and murder of three young Israeli yeshiva boys in Gush Etzion. The other four were part of the 18-member Hamas political bureau, and none were well-known. All five deportees are believed to have traveled to Lebanon.
