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John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, briefed journalists on ongoing discussions in Cairo. He addressed questions regarding the duration of the talks, the topics under negotiation, and whether the weekend's Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel had influenced the negotiations.
Kirby Briefs on Cairo Negotiations Amid Middle East Tensions
John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, briefed journalists on ongoing discussions in Cairo. He addressed questions regarding the duration of the talks, the topics under negotiation, and whether the weekend's Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's drone and rocket attacks on northern Israel had influenced the negotiations.
Hostilities Have No Impact on Talks
Kirby clarified that the recent hostilities had not impacted the Cairo talks. While he couldn't provide a timeline, he mentioned that one key topic under discussion is “the exchange of hostages and prisoners held by Israel.”
Details of Working Group Discussions
Kirby: The working groups are currently meeting in Cairo. Brett McGurk extended his stay by an extra day to initiate the discussions, but he will likely leave soon, with the working group members continuing the negotiations. While I don’t have a full list of attendees, all parties, including Hamas, are represented in these discussions.
Uncertainty Over Duration and Specifics of Talks
Regarding the duration of the talks, it's uncertain. We anticipate these discussions will continue for several days, but the timeline will depend on the progress made by those involved.
Exchange of Hostages and Prisoners Under Review
As for the content of the talks, the discussions are more detailed and specific than what has typically been disclosed. For example – and I must be cautious here – one issue for the working groups to resolve is the exchange of hostages and prisoners held by Israel. The specifics of this exchange, including the number of individuals to be released on each side and the timing, are being addressed. However, I cannot provide further details at this time.
Cairo Talks Remain Constructive Despite Weekend Attacks
Concerning the weekend's attacks, Kirby reiterated that they had no impact on the Cairo talks, which remain constructive. Despite Hezbollah's rocket and drone attacks, which Israel successfully defended against, the efforts to finalize the ceasefire deal continue on the ground without disruption.
