Abbas Meets With Egypt's Sissi to Discuss Cairo-brokered Israel-Hamas Deal

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Saturday to discuss an Egyptian mediated Israel-Hamas deal, and efforts to promote reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

The leaders met in Sharm el Sheikhan at an international conference for youth.

To really understand Israel and the Middle East - subscribe to Haaretz

After their meeting, Abbas issued a statement about what both men discussed, including various developments and continued talks between the PA and Egypt, and internal Palestinian issues.

The statement also included details about the easing of the siege on the Gaza Strip in exchange for a long-term deal between Israel and Hamas, a development that was reported earlier Saturday.

• Israel-Qatar Deal to Transfer Funds to Hamas Officials Underway, Gaza Reports Say
• Relative Calm on Israel-Gaza Border: Thousands Protest as Egypt Monitors
• Israel-Hamas Gaza Deal Reportedly Includes Partial Lifting of Siege, End of Violence

Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar has revealed details from what it called an emerging agreement between Israel and Hamas aimed at easing violence on the Gaza border.

The paper published a draft agreement said to be an Israel-Hamas deal that will limit protest activities near the border and restrict violence.

According to clauses in the draft agreement, Egypt will pressure Israel to lift 70 percent of the blockade on Gaza and expand the fishing zone to 14 nautical miles; 5,000 Gazan workers under 40 will be allowed to enter Israel for employment; and Egypt will open the Rafah border crossing.