Palestinian militant group Hamas will begin talks with Egyptian officials on Wednesday about Cairo's offer of a security role in Gaza if Israel carries out a plan to evacuate the occupied territory, Hamas sources said.
Many Palestinians fear that an Egyptian presence in Gaza, could tie their hands in their conflict with Israel if, as now envisaged, it keeps Gaza sealed off and tries to annex parts of the West Bank after a withdrawal.
Sources in Hamas, an Islamist movement behind many suicide attacks on Israelis, said the Cairo talks would seek to clarify Egypt's offer to send up to 200 security advisers to Gaza.
Egypt, one of only two Arab states to have a peace treaty with Israel, wants to help prevent any collapse into anarchy or an Islamist take-over on its borders after Jewish settlers leave.
A Hamas delegation led by Khaled Meshaal, the exiled Hamas politburo chief who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in 1997, arrived in Cairo on Monday to prepare for the talks.
"Each side will seek clarification from the other on a number of Palestinian, regional and international issues," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters by telephone from Gaza.
"The discussion will touch on (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon's Gaza plan, (possible) roles of Arab countries such as Egypt, and the latest crisis in the Palestinian territories."
There was no immediate comment available from Egyptian officials on the talks.