Humanitarian aid to Gaza will increase starting next week: Egyptian high-ranking official

CAIRO – 28 April 2024: A high-ranking source revealed that the humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip will increase starting next week, Al Qahera News reports

Egypt is hosting a new round of indirect talks between Hamas movement and Israel regarding reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and increase the humanitarian aid that should enter the besieged enclave.

According to Al Qahera News, the Egyptian proposal entails the release of 20-40 captives currently held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners serving lengthy sentences or who are elderly.

The Egyptian proposal includes a ceasefire and daily prisoner swaps throughout the truce period, as well as the suspension of a ground invasion in Rafah and the provision of adequate aid to Gaza.

Reports indicate that the Egyptian truce proposal in Gaza also encompasses the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

A delegation from Hamas is scheduled to visit Cairo on Monday to deliver the movement's response to Egyptian and Qatari mediators regarding a recent ceasefire proposal in Gaza, along with a proposed prisoner swap deal.

Led by Khalil Al-Hayya, the Deputy Chairman of Hamas in Gaza, the delegation aims to engage in talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza.

The visit takes place amidst ongoing protests in Tel Aviv, where pressure mounts on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal with Hamas for the release of over 100 hostages still held by Hamas.

Meanwhile, Al Hadath T.V. reported that an Israeli delegation will head to Egypt for the talks.

In recent days, Hamas has been reviewing an Israeli counterproposal for a prisoner release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza, following discussions held by a high-level Egyptian delegation regarding an Egyptian proposal to halt the war.

The death toll of the Palestinians in the Israeli war rose to 34,454, while the injured number reached 77,575, in accordance with the latest data from the Health Ministry Office in Gaza on Sunday.

Last week, Head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said the Rafah operation will not succeed in bringing back captives or eliminating Hamas, but will rather threaten Egypt-Israel peace.

Smotrich described giving up on the Rafah invasion in line with Egypt's recent proposals as a defeat for Israel, implying that Netanyahu's government should no longer continue in its duties in this case.