ceasefire
A senior official has refuted reports of planned meetings between Egyptian and Israeli officials regarding discussions on a Gaza truce beyond the scope of security delegations.
A high-ranking source said on Wednesday that Egypt is intensifying its contacts with all parties to find a way to implement ceasefire in Gaza Strip.
Egypt demanded the immediate adherence to the ceasefire in a way that opens up space to deal with all aspects of the crisis, according to a statement released by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Monday.
The proposal's first phase for a ceasefire involves the release of Israeli detainees including women, children, the elderly, and the sick. In exchange, a varying number of Palestinian prisoners, ranging from 700 to 1,000, would be released, as reported by Reuters.
The talks will be participated by Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators, with Hamas representatives and aim to tackle the outcomes of the Paris meeting on reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a prisoner swap between the Palestinians and the Israelis, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin on Monday.
The source added that Egypt is exerting tremendous efforts to reach a fair truce agreement ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar during which Muslims worldwide fast from dawn to sunset.
During the meeting, which was held during Shoukry's visit to Geneva, the two sides discussed the humanitarian situation in the war-torn Gaza Strip, as the result of the war waged by Israel, which left about 30,000 people killed, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.
The members of the committee said that taking serious and urgent steps to ensure that relief corridors to deliver sufficient and urgent humanitarian, food and medical aid to the Gaza Strip is a must, expressing their rejection of restricting the entry of humanitarian aid.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry met Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rio De Janeiro.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi emphasized Egypt’s unequivocal rejection of any form of displacement of Palestinians in a phone call with France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday.
Officials have told the New York Times that negotiators are nearing an agreement between Hamas and Israel for a pause in the Israeli attacks in exchange for the release of the remaining captives in Gaza.
Minister Shokry commended the role of Spain in backing the Palestinian Cause historically at the European Union (EU).
A high-level Egyptian source stressed on Wednesday that the path of negotiations to resolve the crisis in Gaza is irreplaceable, adding that Egypt’s role in this regard is also indispensable.
Rashwan noted that the framework was articulated after listening to the viewpoints of all concerned parties.
An official Egyptian source said to Al Qahera News Channel that what is being discussed regarding an Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza Strip is only a ‘preliminary proposal’.
He added that Hamas leadership seeks with all forces to stop the aggression and massacres against the Palestinians completely not temporarily.
The two ministers exchanged visions on the deteriorating humanitarian and security conditions in the Gaza Strip, and the international efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis that Palestinian people are suffering from.
The ceasefire began on Friday and was due to last for four days. Yet, it was extended for two additional days.
They discussed the updates of Gaza crisis and status of the current temporary ceasefire.
Chairman of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan stated Saturday that the four-day truce, which started on Friday, may be extended for additional seven days.
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