Hamas, Israeli negotiators arrive in Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

CAIRO/JERUSALEM -- Egypt is hosting delegations from Hamas, Israel, Qatar and the United States in Cairo on Tuesday with the aim of reaching a "comprehensive truce" in the Gaza Strip, state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV channel reported.

The Israeli delegation, which arrived in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon, included members of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and Shin Bet security agency, an Egyptian source who asked to remain anonymous told Xinhua.

In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the delegation to "continue to stand firm on the conditions necessary for the release of our hostages, continue to stand firm on the essential requirements to ensure Israel's security."

Netanyahu noted that the ceasefire proposal, brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators and approved by Hamas on Monday, fell short of Israel's essential requirements.

Egypt is "making every effort to reach a comprehensive truce," the Al-Qahera News quoted an unnamed high-ranking source as saying. The source added that Egypt was engaged in communication with various parties in order to contain the crisis.

The Israeli army on Tuesday continued its operation in Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, where more than 1 million internally displaced Palestinians have sought refuge since Israel's offensive began on October 7 last year.

At least 20 people have been killed in Israel's attacks on Rafah since Tuesday morning, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported.