Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombardment drive vehicles carrying their belongings on a main axis in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 25, 2025. AFP
Al Qahera News TV reported on Thursday that the talks aim to secure the exchange of prisoners and captives while ensuring aid reaches Gaza as part of a transitional phase to de-escalate the situation in the strip.
The Egyptian news outlet reported that the new round of talks seeks to prepare for the second phase of a permanent ceasefire agreement between the two sides.
On 18 March, Israel resumed its genocidal war on Gaza — unilaterally ending a two-month ceasefire agreement with Hamas, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, which has been in effect since 19 January.
Relentless Israeli airstrikes have killed over 855 and wounded 1,869 since then.
In tandem, Israel has blocked the entry of all food, water, and medicine to Gaza since 2 March, starving more than 2.1 million Palestinians in the strip.
The Palestinian Health Ministry announced Sunday that the death toll from the Israeli genocidal war on the strip has surpassed 51,000, with over 114,000 injured since 7 October 2023.
For weeks, Israel has refused to start the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which would have entailed talks on a permanent end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces in exchange for the release of the remaining captives in Gaza.
Israel has demanded that Hamas release all captives—both living and dead—immediately, rather than adhering to the previously agreed-upon phased release during the second stage.
Tel Aviv has offered nothing in return for this unilateral demand.
Egypt has condemned the Israeli breach of the ceasefire agreement and recent announcements of schemes to force the Palestinians to leave Gaza under the guise of 'voluntary departure' as a new war crime.
On Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi reiterated that Cairo would continue to exert all efforts to restore the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and safeguard the right of the Palestinian people to remain in their homeland.
Since 18 March, Egyptian officials have maintained round-the-clock talks with American officials to bridge differences between the two sides and restart the truce.
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