FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Egyptian officials and an Israeli security delegation, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, are meeting in Cairo to discuss a new proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, informed sources say.
Egypt’s initiative calls for a six-month truce in exchange for the release of half of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
This follows Israel’s rejection of a previous Egyptian proposal for a five-year truce in return for the release of all hostages, sources told Xinhua.
The plan also includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and provisions for reconstruction efforts in the territory.
Earlier, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Mahmoud Rashad met with the Israeli negotiating team to discuss the proposal, according to Al-Qahera News TV.
The meeting comes after a Hamas delegation visited Cairo on Saturday, agreeing to release all hostages in exchange for a five-year truce. Israel rejected the offer, citing concerns over its feasibility.
Israel halted aid supplies to Gaza on March 2 after the expiration of a ceasefire phase, resuming strikes on March 18. Indirect negotiations, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., continue as efforts to end the conflict persist.