Egypt’s Sisi says Gaza truce talks ‘encouraging’, invites Trump for signing once deal agreed

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a speech on Wednesday that Egypt is supporting efforts to stop Israel’s war on Gaza, adding that he was optimistic about them

The President made the remarks at the graduation ceremony at a police academy in New Cairo, emphasising that the news he has heard from the meetings currently underway in Sharm el-Sheikh has been "encouraging", before calling on all parties involved to seize the opportunity and end the war.

During his speech, he also added that he hopes the talks in Cairo will result in an Israeli "withdrawal from the Gaza Strip". He also called for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Officials from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Israel are present at the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, where they are negotiating the terms of the proposed ceasefire.

According to The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, al-Sisi penned a letter to US President Donald Trump, where he praised his "real will" to end the war, and invited him to attend the signing of the deal once it is agreed.

On Wednesday, a source familiar with the negotiations told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the Egyptian intelligence chief, General Hassan Rashad, is working around the clock with Qatari officials to iron out any obstacles that may stand in the way of an agreement being reached.

The source added that negotiations are gaining momentum and that Hamas has shown great flexibility in discussions, but also insists on a total ceasefire and the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, as well as the release of high-profile prisoners held by Israel.

Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’ negotiating delegation, said on Tuesday that Hamas "wants guarantees from President Trump and the involved countries that the war will end once and for all".

"We have experienced Israeli occupation…the Israeli occupation throughout history has not kept their promises, so we want real guarantees. We are responding positively to attempts to end the war, to see the withdrawal of the occupation and have a prisoner exchange," he told Al-Qahera News.

The latest development comes as Hamas said that a "list of prisoners required to be released" as part of the truce have been exchanged during the meeting on Wednesday.