Egyptian media report ‘positive progress’ in Gaza truce talks

By Anadolu staff

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egyptian state media reported “positive progress” on Thursday in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas regarding a truce in the Gaza Strip.

“Positive progress has been made in the truce negotiations amid intensive Egyptian contacts with all parties,” said the state-run Al-Qahera News channel, citing a high-level Egyptian source.

The source, however, did not provide any further details.

There was no official comment yet from the Egyptian authorities on the report.

On Wednesday, Al-Qahera News channel, citing an Egyptian source, said efforts were underway to resolve “conflicting points” between Israel and Hamas.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas have taken place in both Egypt and Qatar aimed at reaching a deal that includes a prisoner swap, under which Israeli captives would be released in exchange for the release of Palestinians from Israeli jails.

Tel Aviv believes that over 130 Israelis are being held in Gaza, while Israel is holding around 9,100 Palestinians in its prisons.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that Israel gave Hamas a "generous" offer to release the Israeli captives, which could potentially lead to a cease-fire in Gaza.

The new offer includes Israel’s willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of hostages on humanitarian grounds, two Israeli officials told Axios news website.

Hamas is expected to deliver its response to the cease-fire proposal later this week.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas which killed some 1,200 people.

Nearly 34,600 Palestinians have since been killed and over 77,700 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

More than six months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January issued an interim ruling that ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar