Iran Threatens Saudi Arabia After Security Agreement With America & Israel
What is the reason for the ignition of disputes again between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran after the Saudi-Iranian reconciliation that took place last year with the mediation of China?! And why now?
New Al-Aqsa Flood presented by this episode of Samri Channel.
CIA Director Bill Burns arrived in Cairo, where the parties were awaiting the arrival of Hamas’ response to the release of the hostages and the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. A delegation of Hamas officials is expected to arrive in the Egyptian capital today, Saturday. Reuters quoted four sources, including an Egyptian source, confirming Burns’ arrival, although the CIA declined to comment.
Burns is leading American mediation efforts to reach an agreement. Egypt’s state-owned Cairo News Channel reported on Friday that a Hamas delegation was also expected to arrive there, but did not provide any details about the delegation’s composition or arrangement. Israeli Channel 12 quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying that he expressed his frustration with Burns’ decision to arrive before Hamas responded to the deal, which may increase expectations that the deal is close when it may not be so. The deal currently on the table is divided into three stages.
The first phase will witness the release of 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. Displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to the northern Gaza Strip, as Israeli forces withdraw from urban centres. The second phase will witness talks for a long period of calm and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners.
The final stage will include the exchange of bodies from both sides. According to Ynet, Israel is pessimistic about the chances of reaching a three-stage agreement. An unnamed senior diplomatic source told Ynet that, “Although the mediators are using an optimistic tone at the moment, Israel has not heard Hamas change its extremist positions.”
The current deal was presented to Hamas last Sunday, and consists mainly of concessions proposed by Israel. Initially, Israel expected a response from Hamas either Tuesday or Wednesday, but so far no official response has been received from the movement. Citing Egyptian sources, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Israel has given Hamas one week to agree to the deal on the table or else it will launch its long-promised offensive in the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah.
The report did not specify when exactly the warning was issued. The Israeli Defense Cabinet met on Thursday evening to discuss the deal on the table, but there are no indications that an ultimatum was discussed at that meeting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israel intends to enter Gaza “with or without a deal.”
During his meetings this week in Israel with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other Israeli officials, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken campaigned against such a plan. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that Washington has not yet seen a comprehensive plan regarding Israel’s thinking about a possible military operation in Rafah. Citing US officials, Politico reported on Friday evening that the Israeli military had informed aid groups active in Gaza and the Biden administration of a plan to begin transferring people from Rafah to other locations ahead of the operation.
The Israeli army was said to have sent these relief organizations a map of the area to which Gaza residents should be evacuated, saying that the invasion would go ahead “soon,” but did not specify a specific date.
