Representatives of Egypt, Hamas, Qatar and the United States resumed talks in Cairo on Monday on a truce in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is fighting the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, after “significant progress” on Sunday, a TV channel close to Egypt’s secret service said. services , quoted by France Presse.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States, acting as mediators, have been trying for weeks to broker a truce in the war sparked by Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The ceasefire agreement, in particular, would allow the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

“Egypt is continuing its intensive efforts to reach a truce before Ramadan,” which will begin on March 10 or 11, AlQahera News reported, citing a “senior official.”

“There is significant progress in the talks,” which resumed Sunday in Cairo without Israeli representatives, the unidentified official also said.

US President Joe Biden initially expressed “hope” that the deal would be signed by Monday before backtracking on that statement.

On Friday, he said he was “hopeful” that a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached by the start of Ramadan, but “we may not be able to,” he warned.

A week ago, a source close to Hamas said the Islamist movement was offering to release one hostage per day for 42 days in exchange for 10 Palestinian prisoners for each hostage.

About 250 people were abducted from Israel and flown to Gaza on October 7 in a Hamas attack that killed 1,160 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

According to Israeli authorities, 130 hostages are still being held in Gaza, 31 of whom are believed to have died, after the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinians during the first ceasefire in late November.

In response to the October 7 attack, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, and its military offensive has killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, the vast majority civilians, according to Hamas’ Health Ministry.

As part of the ceasefire negotiations, Hamas specifically demands the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, the return of displaced Gazans to the north of the territory, and the arrival of humanitarian aid for the population at risk of starvation, the report said. a source close to the Islamist movement. (Agerpress)