CAIRO: Egypt has proposed that a yet to be agreed truce between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza begin on Feb. 5, a Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) official told AFP on Monday.
Hamas and Israel, which fought a 22-day long war in Gaza that killed at least 1,300 Palestinians, have both largely observed their unilateral ceasefires but have not agreed on a lasting truce.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit says the latest talks with rival Palestinian factions that Cairo has hosted witnessed positive developments. He didn t elaborate.
DFLP official Saleh Zaidan said Egypt, which has been mediating truce talks between Israel, Hamas and several Palestinian factions, would continue discussions to shore up the ceasefire before Feb. 5.
The truce will encompass the opening of passages (into Gaza) and will be between Israel and the five main Palestinian factions, Zaidan said, meaning Fatah, Hamas, the DFLP, the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine and Islamic Jihad.
He added that Egypt has proposed that Palestinian reconciliation talks begin on Feb. 22.
Israeli and Hamas officials have visited Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials since their ceasefires came into effect on Jan. 18.
Hamas has said it is mulling an Israeli proposal for an 18-month renewable ceasefire.
Hamas insists that Israel and Egypt open their passages into the Gaza Strip.
Israel has said it would not open the crossings if Hamas did not release an Israeli soldier it captured more than two years ago.
Egypt has also refused to permanently open its Rafah border crossing with Gaza in the absence of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas representatives at the crossing. -AFP
