Hamas official says hostage deal talks have 'great chance of succeeding' - report

Hostage deal and Gaza ceasefire negotiations expected to take place in Cairo on Friday have a high chance of being successful, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzook told London-based Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Thursday.

“There is a great chance for the negotiations to succeed this time,” he told the publication.

According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, a Hamas delegation arrived in the Egyptian capital on Wednesday and is set to travel to Doha, Qatar, on Thursday for continued negotiations, reportedly scheduled to pick up on Friday.

Hamas spokesperson Jihad Taha told the Qatari newspaper that the delegation in Cairo was set to meet with Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators in order to complete previous negotiations.

‘Overcoming obstacles’ or creating them?

The Hamas delegation aims to “to overcome the obstacles and conditions that the Israeli side has recently set with the aim of continuing the aggression against our people,” Taha said.

Hamas terrorists take part in a military parade to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel, near the border in the central Gaza Strip, July 19, 2023. (credit: Canva, REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA, SHUTTERSTOCK)

“Hamas is dealing positively and openly with all issues in a way that serves the issues of all our people and will spare no effort to stop the aggression and the series of massacres, killings, and displacement, and we hope that there will be an agreement unless the occupation backs down from the conditions it recently set in order to continue the aggression,” Al-Araby Al-Jadeed quoted Taha as saying.

According to the Qatari outlet, the Hamas delegation met with Egyptian negotiator Major-General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq and, in meetings with Egyptian officials, agreed upon a proposal to postpone talks on issues on which there is disagreement until after the first phase of a deal is implemented.

The effort to implement the first phase of the deal is reportedly part of an effort to achieve an agreement in accordance with the January 20 deadline set forth by US President-elect Donald Trump. Trump has warned Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza before his inauguration on that date.