'Hamas official confirms indirect talks with Israel'

Khalil al-Hayya says Hamas, Israel holding talks concerning implementation of ceasefire, Palestinian news agency reports.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Downtown Cairo 521 (photo credit: Wikicommons)
Downtown Cairo 521
(photo credit: Wikicommons)
Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya on Sunday confirmed that the movement is engaging in indirect talks with Israel over the implementation of the ceasefire deal agreed upon following Operation Pillar of Defense, Palestinian news agency Ma'an reported.
However, he stressed that these talks cannot be described as political negotiations and only concern the ceasefire, according to the report.
His comments follow a Channel 2 report on Friday that said that Israel and Hamas are conducting indirect negotiations with Egypt serving as mediator between the sides.
According to the report, the sides are discussing the possible opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to construction materials and other staple items.
Egyptian media reported Friday that an Israeli delegation met with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday to discuss a number of regional security issues as well as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
According to the Channel 2 report, the Israeli delegation's trip to Cairo was part of the indirect talks with Hamas.