Negotiations underway in Cairo aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza have reached a "significant breakthrough," two Egyptian security sources told Reuters.
According to the sources, there is an agreement on a long-term ceasefire in the besieged strip, though several points of contention remain. Among them is the disarmament of the terrorist organization Hamas.
Earlier Monday, the Egyptian state-run news channel Al Qahera reported that Egypt's intelligence chief, Gen. Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, was scheduled to meet later that evening in Cairo with an Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
Last week, Israel Hayom reported that negotiations with Hamas were continuing under fire, with Egypt mediating between the sides. In recent weeks, Egypt has made it clear to Hamas that it must completely disarm, down to "the last Kalashnikov bullet." Cairo is demanding that Hamas agree to full disarmament in exchange for a five-year cease-fire and immunity for senior figures in the organization.
Earlier Monday evening, Dermer said in a keynote address at a JNS conference that within the next 12 months, "the war of the seven fronts will end, and Israel will win. Many countries want to make peace. But the key is victory."
As first reported by Israel Hayom, Dermer's remarks align with statements made by a senior security official, who said that in closed-door discussions, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined a plan to end the war in Gaza by October of this year. The official stressed that this was a "maximum deadline," and that if conditions allow and objectives are achieved earlier, the campaign could conclude ahead of schedule. The rationale, he said, is to ensure the conflict does not extend beyond two years.
