Egypt threatens to expel Hamas operatives if terror group won't agree to new hostage deal

Egypt is threatening to deport the Hamas operatives currently in the country if the terror group doesn’t agree to the new ceasefire and hostage deal proposal recently presented by the Egyptian mediators, Israeli media reported.

Kan News cited an informed Arab source, who said, “A message was conveyed to Hamas that if they do not agree to the proposal put forward by Egypt, they are not welcome [in Egypt] and must leave within 72 hours.”

The source added that this is what forced Hamas to publicly declare its agreement to the proposal. However, Israel maintains that it hasn’t yet received an official proposal from Egypt.

“We have not received any Egyptian proposal regarding the deal at hand; it is likely part of talks between Egypt and Hamas,” said the spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Dr. Omer Dostri, in a radio interview with Kol BaRama on Tuesday.

He explained that the latest proposal, which reportedly includes the release of five living Israeli hostages, is not enough for Israel. “We are aiming for the Witkoff framework, which involves the release of 11 living hostages, and this is where we stand,” Dostri stated.

Reports by Kan and Walla News suggested that Israel is informed about the negotiations between Egypt and Hamas, but that a proposal hasn’t been formally presented to Israel so far, as talks continue.

The threat of deportation is part of a mounting pressure campaign by Egypt on Hamas to accept an updated deal that could lead to the release of more hostages and a prolonged truce.

Reports also suggest that Egypt is feeling the financial effects of the Houthi blockade on the Red Sea, which also blocks the Suez Canal, one of the country’s most important revenue sources.

On Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff discussed efforts “to secure the release of Israeli captives, de-escalation, and [the restoration of] the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip,” according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

“During the call, Witkoff praised Egypt’s crucial and strategic role in fostering regional stability, recognizing its collaboration with Qatar in mediating efforts to reinforce the ceasefire,” the ministry said.

A senior Israeli official speaking with Walla News said that Egypt “took all the pressure they received from the US and passed it on to Hamas – and it may have made an impact.”

The source added that Hamas’ remaining top leadership is expected to convene to discuss the latest proposal and determine an official response.

An Arab diplomatic source confirmed the mounting pressure on Hamas, telling the Qatari al-Araby al-Jadeed news outlet that “regional actors” had made an “unofficial” agreement with Israel to increase the pressure on Hamas and the other Palestinian terror groups.

The goals of this campaign are said to include the weakening of Hamas’ control over the Gaza Strip and forcing concessions seen as necessary by the Arab states to reach a sustainable solution to the Palestinian crisis.

However, another report by the same news outlet said that Hamas consistently rejected proposals for its leadership to leave the Gaza Strip unharmed as part of a broader ceasefire agreement.

In addition, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri recently reiterated that a potential disarmament of Hamas was never on the table.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Abu Zuhri claimed that “Hamas is very flexible and positive and is trying to cooperate to reach a framework,” adding that the terror group is currently reviewing and discussing several different proposals.