Hamas negotiators have arrived in Cairo for negotiations on a cease-fire in Gaza

Hamas negotiators arrived in Cairo on Saturday to intensify talks on a possible truce in Gaza, which would include the return of hostages to Israel, a Hamas official said. The director of the CIA is already present for indirect diplomacy, reports Reuters.

The Egyptian Al-Qahera News also confirmed the arrival of the Hamas delegation in Cairo.

“The results now will be different. We have reached an agreement on many points, some points remain,” an Egyptian security source told Reuters.

A Palestinian official with knowledge of the mediation efforts expressed cautious optimism. “Things are looking better this time, but whether a deal is ready or not will depend on whether Israel has offered what is needed to make it happen,” the official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters appointed.

The Hamas delegation arrived from the headquarters of the Palestinian Islamist movement in Qatar, which, along with Egypt, tried to broker a continuation of a brief cease-fire in November.

Washington – which, like other Western powers and Israel, classifies Hamas as a terrorist group – urged Hamas to strike a deal.

However, the talks have stalled over Hamas’ long-standing demand for a commitment to end the nearly seven-month offensive by Israel, which insists that, after any ceasefire, it will resume operations to disarm and dismantle the faction.

“Israel will not under any circumstances agree to end the war as part of an agreement to release our hostages,” an Israeli official said on Saturday, signaling that this basic position remained unchanged.

Hamas announced on Friday that it will go to Cairo in a “positive spirit” after studying the latest proposed agreement, few elements of which have been made public. Israel has given a preliminary nod to terms that one source said would include the return of 20 to 33 hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a suspension of fighting for several weeks.

Thus, about 100 hostages would remain in Gaza, some of whom Israel says have died in captivity. The source, who asked not to be identified by name or nationality, told Reuters their return could require an additional deal with broader Israeli concessions.

“This could mean a de facto, if not formal, end to the war – unless Israel somehow takes them back by force or generates enough military pressure to make Hamas cave in,” the source said.

Egyptian sources said CIA Director William Burns arrived in Cairo on Friday. He has been involved in previous truce talks, and Washington has signaled there could be progress this time.

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