Negotiations held in Cairo to secure a ceasefire in Gaza are reportedly on the verge of a “significant breakthrough,” according to two Egyptian security sources who spoke to Reuters on Monday. The discussions, involving delegations from Egypt and Israel, have intensified in recent days, though key obstacles—particularly over Hamas’ disarmament—continue to hinder final agreement.
The Egyptian sources indicated that while there is consensus on a framework for a long-term ceasefire, Israel’s demand for Hamas to relinquish its weapons remains a sticking point. Hamas has consistently rejected any proposal that requires it to disarm. There has been no official response from either Israel or Hamas regarding the reported progress. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported on X that an Israeli official had denied the existence of any breakthrough, without providing further details.
State-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported earlier that Egyptian intelligence chief General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad was scheduled to meet an Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Cairo. Talks are continuing with the support of mediators Egypt and Qatar, though neither has issued public updates on the current round of negotiations. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Sunday that discussions in Doha had yielded some progress, but cautioned that no agreement had yet been reached.
Hamas has indicated a willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel agrees to halt its military offensive in Gaza. However, Israel maintains that the hostages must be freed unconditionally. Hamas adviser Taher Al-Nono said on Saturday that the group is open to a years-long truce and hopes to gain support from international mediators for its proposal.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18 after the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire in January. The war began on October 7, 2023, when a Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's continued offensive has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Around 24 hostages are believed to still be alive inside Gaza.
The Egyptian sources indicated that while there is consensus on a framework for a long-term ceasefire, Israel’s demand for Hamas to relinquish its weapons remains a sticking point. Hamas has consistently rejected any proposal that requires it to disarm. There has been no official response from either Israel or Hamas regarding the reported progress. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported on X that an Israeli official had denied the existence of any breakthrough, without providing further details.
State-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported earlier that Egyptian intelligence chief General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad was scheduled to meet an Israeli delegation led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Cairo. Talks are continuing with the support of mediators Egypt and Qatar, though neither has issued public updates on the current round of negotiations. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Sunday that discussions in Doha had yielded some progress, but cautioned that no agreement had yet been reached.
Hamas has indicated a willingness to release all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel agrees to halt its military offensive in Gaza. However, Israel maintains that the hostages must be freed unconditionally. Hamas adviser Taher Al-Nono said on Saturday that the group is open to a years-long truce and hopes to gain support from international mediators for its proposal.
Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18 after the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire in January. The war began on October 7, 2023, when a Hamas attack killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's continued offensive has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Around 24 hostages are believed to still be alive inside Gaza.
