Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly met secretly on May 22 with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to discuss a long-term ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, according to a report broadcast Monday by Israel’s Channel 10 television news, quoting unnamed senior U.S. officials.
There was no comment on the report from the prime minister, nor from Egyptian officials, but according to the report, Netanyahu traveled to Egypt for the meeting.
Netanyahu and El-Sisi allegedly discussed the easing of the blockade around Gaza, rehabilitation of its infrastructure and the terms of a long-term ceasefire with Hamas.
According to the report, the two leaders also discussed the possible return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, and the question of whether it is necessary or feasible to disarm Hamas.
The Trump administration would support a Palestinian Authority return to Gaza, according to a report published Monday by Ha’aretz.
If the PA chooses not to be involved, the United States would still support a viable ceasefire agreement, a senior Trump administration official said. “We would like to see an end to fighting with or without the PA,” the official said, but would prefer “if the PA reasserts control in Gaza so we can get on with making lives better.”