CAIRO, May 28 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian security delegation is intensifying efforts to reactivate talks to reach a truce and a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, in coordination with Qatar and the United States, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported Tuesday.
Egypt informed all concerned parties that the Israeli escalation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah has undermined the negotiation efforts and led to "dire consequences," said the report, citing a high-ranking security source.
The source added that Egypt reaffirmed it will only operate the Rafah crossing between it and Gaza with Palestinian and international parties, not with Israel, whose army announced control of the crossing from the Gazan side three weeks ago.
Egypt is determined to continue its efforts to support the Palestinians and preserve their rights by all possible means, according to the report.
On Saturday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that Israel had agreed to renew talks with Hamas on a hostage deal this week, with the mediation of Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
However, following Israel's attack on Rafah on Sunday night, Hamas informed mediators that it will not participate in any negotiation for a ceasefire in Gaza or a prisoner exchange deal, a source in the movement said on Monday. ■
