Source: Hamas not interested in return to full blown Gaza conflict, even if Cairo talks fail
Diplomatic source tells 'Maariv Hashavua' that Hamas is facing heavy pressure from Egypt not to provoke Israel into wide confrontation.
By JPOST.COM STAFFCease fire talks in Cairo (photo credit: REUTERS)
The five-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas is set to expire at midnight on Monday, and as of now, there are no signs of a breakthrough to reach a long-term deal between the sides in Cairo negotiations.As the sides returned to Cairo for further talks on Monday, members of the Palestinian delegation expressed pessimism and estimated that efforts to reach a deal were not likely to succeed.An Israeli diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post's Hebrew-language sister publication, Maariv Hashavua, that "it is very unlikely that a full-blown military conflict between Hamas and us will reignite, even if no deal is reached in Cairo."The source added that "Hamas has not shown signs that it is interested in returning to a wide-scale confrontation. We are hearing reports from Cairo that Hamas is facing heavy pressure from Egypt and others."Hamas is also facing economic pressure that is likely to prevent it from provoking Israel to carry out further attacks in Gaza, according to the source.The source said reports that the leadership of Hamas is willing to delay negotiations on its demand for a seaport for a month also are a sign that the organization is not interested in a renewal of hostilities.Palestinian media reported on Monday that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas would be traveling to Qatar in the near future for talks with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and later visiting Cairo to discuss cease-fire efforts with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sisi.
