An Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on government orders to seek a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations with Hamas, according to an Egyptian source involved in the mediation between Israel and the terrorist organization. The source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the delegation arrived Monday evening and held talks Tuesday with the Egyptian mediation team from the General Intelligence Directorate.
The meeting focused on recent developments and a proposal raised by Hamas representative Khalil al-Hayya during a speech, in which he expressed the organization's willingness to consider a comprehensive deal that would bring the war in Gaza to an end.
According to the source, the Israeli delegation inquired about specific names of Israeli hostages. The source estimated that the delegation's visit to Cairo was made under American pressure concerning hostages who are either US citizens or have American family members.
Last night, a senior Palestinian official involved in the ceasefire talks told the BBC that mediators from Egypt and Qatar had presented a new proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza. According to the report, the plan includes a long-term ceasefire lasting between five and seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a formal end to the war, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
