Egyptian delegation arrives in Israel for Gaza truce talks

A high-level Egyptian delegation arrived in Israel Friday in an effort to restart stalled talks on a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to AFP, citing Israeli and Egyptian media. The renewed truce talks come as Israel prepares for an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which Egypt warned could have catastrophic regional consequences.

The Associated Press reported that Egypt’s top intelligence official, Abbas Kamel, is leading the delegation and plans to discuss a “new vision” for a prolonged cease-fire in Gaza.

Friday’s talks will focus at first on a limited exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of a significant number of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza “with minimum restrictions,” the AP said, citing an unnamed Egyptian official.

There has been "noticeable progress in bringing the views of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations closer", said Egypt’s Al-Qahera News, which is linked to Egyptian state intelligence services.