Egypt Moves to Broker Gaza Ceasefire Before Ramadan
In a high-stakes push to calm the raging conflict in Gaza, Egyptian officials have opened direct talks with top representatives from Hamas and Israel. The goal? To negotiate a ceasefire ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, starting tomorrow or Tuesday.
Secretive Talks Involve Hamas and Mossad
Egypt is working closely with Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. Acting on orders from the Egyptian presidency, mediators aim to close the widening rift between the two sides. Details of these sensitive discussions remain under wraps.
Qatar, Egypt & US Join Forces for Ramadan Truce
Along with Egypt, Qatar and the US are spearheading efforts to broker a temporary ceasefire. In return, they want the release of Israeli hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7 attack—a move that sparked the latest wave of violence.
Though Israeli officials skipped recent talks in Cairo, Mossad insists the deal-making continues. Still, hopes for a ceasefire before Ramadan’s start are fading fast.
Massive Food Aid Set to Reach Gaza Amid Famine Fears
Meanwhile, NGO Open Arms is readying a barge carrying 200 tonnes of food bound for Gaza. Partnering with US charity World Central Kitchen, they plan to unload the vital supplies on Gaza’s shores.
The ship is currently docked in Larnaca, Cyprus, awaiting clearance to depart, says Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
With the UN warning of a looming famine for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, airdrops by US and Jordanian planes offer some help. But UN aid coordinators stress land routes remain the lifeline for effective aid delivery.
