Ceasefire talks in Cairo delayed

Gaza ceasefire talks that were to begin in Cairo on Thursday have been delayed until next week to allow delegates time to study new proposals, further reducing the likelihood of reaching a deal, Report informs via The National.

The sources said earlier that negotiations would take place between midlevel officials from the US, Egypt and Qatar and their Israeli counterparts, in a renewed push to conclude a deal.

While Hamas was unlikely to have delegates present at the negotiations, its senior officials in Qatar were to participate virtually.

Egypt has already rejected a new proposal from Israel that provided for a gradual withdrawal of its forces from the Palestinian side of a land crossing between Egypt and Gaza and a strip that runs the length of the Egypt-Gaza border.

Egypt has demanded that Israeli forces withdraw fully from both areas at the start of the first phase, which is to last 42 days.

The counter-proposal also includes the deployment of US and UN forces to both areas.