Egypt exerts utmost efforts to reach Gaza truce

CAIRO - 7 Febuary 2024: Egypt is exerting its utmost efforts to reach a truce in the Gaza Strip and end the humanitarian crisis there, a senior Egyptian official said on Wednesday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the El Qahera News that Egypt is in contact with all parties involved in the conflict, including Israel and the Palestinian factions.

The official said that Egypt is calling on all parties to show the necessary flexibility to reach a ceasefire.

The official's remarks came amid reports that Egypt is working on a new proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The proposal reportedly includes a mechanism for the release of Israeli prisoners held by Hamas and the lifting of the Israeli blockade on Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated sharply in recent months, with the United Nations warning that the strip is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.

Egypt has played a key role in mediating previous ceasefires between Israel and Hamas. In 2014, Egypt helped to broker a ceasefire that ended a 50-day war between the two sides.