Ongoing Cairo talks crucial to cementing ceasefire deal

Öncü Keçeli, the spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has publicly welcomed the acceptance of a ceasefire by Hamas, which includes the provision for the release of Israeli hostages. In his statement, Keçeli expressed relief at the progress towards peace, emphasizing the importance of continuing dialogue to solidify the ceasefire terms.

However, Keçeli also voiced strong objections to the ongoing military actions in Rafah, calling for an immediate withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from the border crossing with Egypt. He stressed that restoring the status quo in Rafah is crucial and must be addressed without delay to prevent further escalation and humanitarian distress.

The ceasefire agreement, while a hopeful sign, is still under scrutiny by Israeli authorities, who have indicated that it does not yet meet all their required conditions. Talks are ongoing in Cairo, where both parties are attempting to finalize the terms that could lead to a lasting peace.

The outcomes of the talks in Cairo will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can transform into a more stable and long-term resolution to the hostilities.

A team of mid-ranking Israeli officials has arrived in Cairo to assess whether the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas can be persuaded to shift on its latest ceasefire offer, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday.

The official earlier reiterated that the current Hamas proposal was unacceptable to Israel.

The senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel's determination to move against Rafah had pushed Hamas into hastily setting out its latest proposal.

The latest proposal took the basic framework of a proposal from April 27, based around a halt in fighting and a return of some of the more than 130 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, but had then stretched it to "unacceptable extremes", the official said.