'All parties agree to return to negotiating table regarding Gaza cease-fire'

ISTANBUL

A high-ranking Egyptian source confirmed on Tuesday evening to Al Qahera News that all involved parties have consented to return to the negotiating path for a cease-fire in Gaza.

The source, who requested anonymity, said Egyptian efforts to reach a truce are continuing.

"The Egyptian security delegation emphasized to its Israeli counterpart the necessity of halting escalation to avoid the negative consequences of the ongoing escalation in Rafah," the source added.

Israeli and Hamas delegations are said to have arrived in Cairo for talks on the cease-fire and hostage swap deal.

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed about 1,200 people and took 250 as hostages.

Nearly 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,100 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Hamas on Monday accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal drawn by Egypt and Qatar, but Israel said the deal did not meet its core demands.

The proposal, according to sources, included three phases and would see an end to the war, as well as the release of Israeli captives held in the enclave and Palestinians held in Israeli prisons

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul