Rafah crossing at the heart of Egypt-Israel negotiations: What’s next for Gaza and hostage exchanges?

Breakthrough for the deal? This is the condition on which the negotiations are taking place.

Egypt is negotiating with Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza as part of a new effort that could allow additional aid into the strip and create movement towards a broader ceasefire agreement, the Wall Street Journal reports.

A member of the Hamas Political Bureau abroad, Suhail Al-Hindi, says that the Hamas leadership will examine any document, outline, or ideas that reach the organization, evaluate the proposals, and decide whether to accept or reject them, as he stated this morning (Sunday) on Kan 11.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya, Al-Hendi added: "The organization is examining these proposals and any proposal that comes to the organization, but what is ultimately important is that there are five principles: a ceasefire, the return of the displaced to their homes, the withdrawal of IDF forces from the Strip, a real deal for prisoner exchanges, and the reconstruction of the Strip."

The Wall Street Journal added that Egyptian officials visited Israel earlier this week to negotiate terms for the reopening of the crossing, which they have relied on heavily for aid supply and distribution, but which has been closed since May when the IDF launched a large-scale military operation in Rafah.

The new plan aims to build on the momentum created by the ceasefire in Lebanon this week.

If Egypt and Israel agree, the crossing might open as early as the beginning of December. The renewed push to reopen the crossing is part of a new proposal being discussed with both Israel and Hamas to halt the fighting in Gaza for at least 60 days and allow Israel to maintain a military presence in the Strip. The hostages held in Gaza will start to be released after seven days.

The ceasefire in Lebanon removed Hamas's ally, Hezbollah, from the campaign, leaving Hamas isolated and weakened after the IDF eliminated many of its senior members and operatives, including leader Yahya Sinwar in October.

Egypt and Hamas both noted that they would not insist on the Israeli military leaving the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing immediately, reversing a central demand that had previously thwarted attempts to reopen the crossing.

The Prime Minister's Office refused to comment on the request for a response.