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Secret talks in Cairo, led by Egypt and Qatar with Turkish participation, aim to reach a comprehensive deal to end the war between Israel and Hamas, Arabic media reported.
The report said the anticipated deal could offer solutions that go beyond a mere cease-fire, encompassing prisoner exchanges, the restructuring of the enclave’s civil administration, and the establishment of international mechanisms to ensure stability.
According to the plan, Hamas would stop its military activities during the interim phase to allow for talks to reach a permanent deal to end Israel's war on Gaza.
The New Arab quoted unnamed informed sources as saying that negotiation channels between Cairo and Hamas have resumed with Turkish mediation, following a visit by a senior Hamas delegation to Ankara last week. The delegation met with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials to discuss the latest developments and efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the source, these developments came after Fidan visited Cairo on Saturday, during which he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and submitted an official request from Türkiye to mediate in re-establishing contact between Egypt and Hamas over outstanding issues.
The source added that Cairo expressed readiness to receive a Hamas delegation as part of new regional efforts to bridge differences amid complex political and on-the-ground realities in the Palestinian arena and under regional and international pressure to de-escalate and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
These developments come amid intensive diplomatic efforts in the Egyptian capital, where Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Hayya is set to hold talks with Egyptian officials as part of a joint effort with Qatar and Türkiye to advance a new initiative aimed at removing Israel’s pretext for reoccupying Gaza.
In an interview with Al-Tasea on Sky News Arabia, former Egyptian Deputy Director of Military Intelligence Ahmed Ibrahim said that the initiative being prepared by Egypt and Qatar is based on a comprehensive deal.
The agreement includes the release of all Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, and the freeing of several Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Hamas would agree to the repositioning of the Israeli army in Gaza under Arab and U.S. supervision during a transitional period, alongside freezing the military wing’s weapons with guarantees from Egyptian and Turkish mediators.
Additionally, a temporary civil administration would be established to govern Gaza under U.N. supervision.
Ibrahim added that the first phase of the agreement includes a temporary cease-fire and the partial release of prisoners while advanced negotiations take place on disarming Hamas and gradually restoring control over the Gaza Strip, noting that there is a preliminary agreement between the two sides on these steps.
The push to revive negotiation channels comes after the Israeli government announced early Friday that it had approved a gradual plan to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
The plan begins with seizing Gaza City and displacing its roughly 1 million residents toward the south, followed by encircling the city and carrying out incursions into densely populated residential areas.
During a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart on Saturday, the Turkish minister insisted on a Turkish decision about rejecting Israel's intention to fully occupy Gaza, calling this plan a new phase of Israel's expansionist and genocidal policy.
Fidan emphasized the bilateral commitment to opposing Israeli plans, declaring, "As Türkiye and Egypt, we will continue to stand against such scenarios."
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