Egypt warns it may withdraw from Gaza war mediation

(Patria) - Egypt on Wednesday threatened to withdraw as a mediator in ceasefire negotiations in Gaza after CNN reported that Egyptian intelligence had altered the terms of a recent truce proposal and nullified the deal, Reuters reported.

"Attempts to cast doubt on and insult Egyptian mediation efforts... will only lead to further complications of the situation in Gaza and the entire region and may push Egypt to completely withdraw from its mediation in the current conflict," said Diaa Rashwan, head of the Egyptian State Information Service.

Citing three people familiar with the discussions, CNN reported on Tuesday that Egyptian intelligence had altered the terms of a ceasefire proposal that Israel had agreed to earlier in May.

When Hamas announced on May 6 that it accepted the deal, it was not the proposal that US and Qatari mediating colleagues thought had been delivered to Hamas for consideration, CNN reported. The changes made by Egyptian intelligence caused anger and accusations from American, Israeli, and Qatari officials and caused a stalemate in the talks, CNN reported.

Rashwan stated in the statement that Cairo's participation as a mediator was the result of repeated requests and insistence from Israel and the United States. Egypt said that some "parties" had recently blamed Egyptian and Qatari mediators and accused them of bias, she added.

Tensions between Egypt and Israel are rising due to Israel's military operation in Rafah on the southern end of the Gaza Strip, just across the border with Egypt.