Egyptian Security Delegation Calls for Immediate Cease of Israeli Incursion at Rafah Crossing: Al-Qahera News

Cairo is scheduled to host another round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas after Hamas announced its approval on Monday of a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

According to a report from Al-Qahera News, a high-level source revealed that an Egyptian security delegation has urged Israel to promptly withdraw from their recent crossing into the Rafah border from the Palestinian side.

According to a high-level source, the delegation cautioned Israel about the potential repercussions of the incursion.

The source highlighted the continuous efforts being made to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Hamas.

A Qatari delegation will participate in the talks, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesman of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Tuesday.

Israel described the recent proposal as “far from meeting Israel’s requirements” and said it would send negotiators to Cairo for talks to examine the possibility of a deal.

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US will review Hamas’ response to the proposal with Egypt and Qatar and discuss it with Israel.

In a social media post on Monday, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said he is closely following up the positive developments in truce negotiations.

He called on all parties to exert further efforts to reach a deal that leads to ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and conducting a captive-prisoner swap.

Deputy head of the Hamas Political Bureau Khalil Al-Hayya said the Egyptian-Qatari proposal includes a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, unconditional return of the displaced people, a prisoner swap, and reconstruction of the strip.

The Israeli invasion comes amid a worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, especially Rafah, which houses more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million population.

Israel ordered on Monday 100,000 Palestinians to leave the eastern neighbourhoods of Rafah ahead of the planned operation.

After Hamas approved the truce proposal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for Israel and Hamas on Monday to agree to a ceasefire.

“This is an opportunity that cannot be missed,” the UN chief stressed.

“A ground invasion in Rafah would be intolerable because of its devastating humanitarian consequences and because of its destabilizing impact in the region,” he added.

Since the war began on 7 October, Israeli forces have killed over 34,700 people, injured more than 78,100, caused extensive damage to Gaza’s infrastructure, and displaced most of the strip’s residents.