Egypt on Tuesday launched a fresh initiative to restart stalled talks on a 60-day Gaza truce, frozen since late July after the United States and Israel withdrew from negotiations in Doha, as a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for consultations.
Diplomatic and security sources told Egypt’s state-owned Al Qahera News that senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya was leading the delegation, which will discuss a ceasefire and ways to speed humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Cairo was working with Qatar and the US to revive the original proposal, a two-month halt to fighting, the release of some Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian and medical supplies.
He said the plan included interim administration of Gaza by 15 Palestinian technocrats under Palestinian Authority oversight for six months.
The initiative comes as Israel’s Kan broadcaster reported that mediators had floated a broader package to Hamas: the release of all Israeli captives, alive or dead, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners, alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal supervised by Arab and US monitors.
The proposal would require Hamas to freeze and eventually dismantle its armed wing under international guarantees, including from Türkiye.
Talks have been at a standstill since late July, when US and Israeli negotiators pulled out for consultations.
Abdelatty told reporters on Monday that a “comprehensive deal to end the Gaza war” was possible if both sides showed goodwill and political will.
Khaled Okasha, head of the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, said the plan aimed to close gaps that derailed previous rounds, including sequencing of hostage releases, return of bodies, and timelines. He said Washington’s pressure on Israel could open the way for a broader accord, including a reworked Israeli force deployment plan and significantly increased aid flows.
Palestinian analyst Ayman al-Raqab said the Cairo meetings could start with a partial truce but evolve into a full agreement if talks mature, pointing to likely compromises to bridge past differences.
Diaa Rashwan, head of Egypt’s State Information Service, urged Hamas to respond swiftly to the proposal, warning against delays that had derailed earlier efforts.
Israeli media reported divisions within Israel’s negotiating team over the prospects of even a partial deal. Haaretz, citing political sources, said Israel could cancel or delay a planned offensive on Gaza City if Hamas offered major concessions, though chances of resolving disputes remained slim.
Okasha predicted Hamas could show flexibility given its limited options, while Raqab said agreement was possible with clear US guarantees to end the war — otherwise, talks could collapse and Israel might move to fully reoccupy Gaza.
