Cairo News Channel quoted a source it described as informed, saying, "A Hamas delegation met today (Wednesday) with the head of Egyptian General Intelligence, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, to discuss ways to advance efforts to calm the situation in Gaza."
The source confirmed that "Egypt is intensifying its contacts with all parties to reach a truce as a prelude to ending the war." He added that Hamas "affirmed its keenness to quickly return to ceasefire and truce negotiations," and appreciated "Egypt's efforts to bring aid into the Gaza Strip and provide relief to its people."
On Tuesday, Hamas announced that a delegation from the movement, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, had arrived in Cairo and begun preliminary talks for meetings scheduled for Wednesday to discuss ways to halt the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of humanitarian aid.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty also revealed at a press conference on Tuesday that Cairo is working with Qatar and the United States to "return to the 60-day truce proposal in the Gaza Strip." He did not provide further details about the proposal, which emerged during the latest round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Doha, which ended without results on July 24.
At the time, Hebrew media reported that the proposal included a 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 living Israeli prisoners would be released in two stages (8 on the first day and 2 on the 50th day). It also included the return of the bodies of 18 other prisoners in three stages, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and increased humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Tel Aviv estimates there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,800 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.
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UNRWA: Heatwave and water shortages exacerbate Gaza's tragedy
The death toll from the aggression on Gaza rises, and the ongoing famine brings the death toll to 239, including 106 children.
Egyptian contacts to resolve the dispute over the Gaza agreement, and the head of Mossad is in Doha to resume negotiations.
More than 100 foreign organizations accuse Israel of blocking aid to Gaza.
On July 24, Israel withdrew from indirect negotiations with Hamas after Tel Aviv's intransigence regarding the withdrawal from Gaza, ending the war, Palestinian prisoners, and the mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid.
The negotiations are being mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States, an ally of Israel.
Hamas has repeatedly declared its willingness to release Israeli prisoners "in bulk" in exchange for an end to the war of extermination, the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
However, the opposition and the prisoners' families assert that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking partial deals that would allow the war to continue, ensuring his continued rule. He fears the collapse of his government if the most extreme faction, which rejects an end to the war, withdraws.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt the operation.
The Israeli genocide left 61,722 Palestinians dead and 154,525 injured, most of them children and women. More than 9,000 people were missing, hundreds of thousands were displaced, and a famine claimed the lives of 235 people, including 106 children.
