Egyptian state-linked TV announced on Monday that mediators and representatives from Hamas have achieved “significant progress” in their discussions towards a potential truce in Gaza, as the talks in Cairo entered their second day.
Following several weeks of diplomatic endeavors, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have been working urgently to finalize a proposed six-week ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas before the commencement of Ramadan next week.
The proposed agreement includes the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack, which triggered the conflict. In return, Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be released.
Al-Qahera News, affiliated with Egypt’s intelligence services, cited an unnamed senior official affirming, “Egypt is persistently exerting efforts to secure a truce before Ramadan,” the Muslim fasting month set to begin on March 10 or 11.
The report indicated, “Significant progress has been made in the negotiations,” following the initiation of the latest discussions in Cairo on Sunday, where Israel was not represented.
According to a senior US official, Israel has generally accepted the terms of the proposed six-week truce, which also involves increased aid deliveries to Gaza.