Egyptian-Israeli meeting held in Cairo to discuss Gaza ceasefire proposal — Sources
A meeting was held in Cairo between Egyptian officials and an Israeli security delegation, led by Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer
- CAIRO — A meeting was held in Cairo between Egyptian officials and an
Israeli security delegation, led by Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron
Dermer, to discuss a new proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza,
informed Egyptian sources said.
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- Speaking to Xinhua, the sources revealed that Egypt has
put forward a new initiative calling for a temporary six-month truce in
exchange for the release of half of the Israeli hostages currently held in
Gaza.
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- This development follows Israel's recent rejection of a
previous Egyptian proposal that envisioned a longer five-year truce in return
for the release of all Israeli hostages in the coastal enclave, according to
the same sources.
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- The sources further detailed that the new Egyptian
proposal outlines a phased withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and
includes provisions for the reconstruction of the territory.
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- Earlier in the day, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel
reported that Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, is scheduled
to meet with the Israeli negotiating team in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire in
the Gaza Strip.
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- This meeting follows a Hamas delegation's recent visit to
Egypt, where discussions centered on a ceasefire in the Strip, Xinhua news
agency reported quoting Al-Qahera channel.
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- On Saturday, a Hamas delegation led by senior leader
Khalil al-Hayya agreed in Cairo to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for
a five-year truce, an Egyptian security source told Xinhua. According to
Israel's state-owned broadcaster Kan, Israel rejected the proposal.
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- Israel halted the entry of aid supplies into Gaza on
March 2, following the expiration of the first six-week phase of a ceasefire
agreement with Hamas that had started on January 19. Israel claimed the move
was due to Hamas' rejection of its offer to extend the first phase. Israeli
forces then resumed strikes across Gaza on March 18, effectively ending the
phased truce.
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- Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, brokered
by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been ongoing for weeks, aiming to
end the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023.
