GAZA/JERUSALEM/CAIRO - The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Friday its openness to any ideas or proposals for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The movement said in a statement sent to Xinhua that Hamas is "open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people".

Hamas proposed a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza, and unconditional or restricted return of displaced persons to their homes in Gaza and North Gaza governorates and across the Strip.

Hamas' announcement comes as Israeli public radio reported the arrival of Abbas Kamel, the head of the Egyptian intelligence leading an Egyptian security delegation to Israel as part of talks to resume the exchange deal and broker a ceasefire agreement with Hamas

The Hamas emphasized accompanying measures such as reconstruction, ending the blockade, fulfilling humanitarian needs, and advancing a prisoner exchange agreement, all aligned with the realization of Palestinian national rights and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.

It comes as Israeli public radio reported the arrival of Abbas Kamel, the head of the Egyptian intelligence leading an Egyptian security delegation to Israel as part of talks to resume the exchange deal and broker a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

Israeli radio reported that Kamel will meet in Tel Aviv with the head of the Mossad, David Barnea, and the head of the National Security Council, Tzahi Hanegbi.

The radio mentioned that the Israeli team managing the negotiations presented new proposals to the "War Cabinet" last night, requiring flexibility from the Israeli side.

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According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the current proposal for the hostage deal entails the release of 33 hostages, comprising women, soldiers, adults, and the wounded.

The duration of the ceasefire within the agreement will depend on the number of hostages to be released, according to the source.

An Israeli security official reported significant progress in bridging the viewpoints between the Egyptian and Israeli delegations regarding reaching a ceasefire in the sector.

Two high-ranking Egyptian security officials confirmed to Xinhua that the talks covered Egypt's "rescue initiative", which aims to prevent any more escalations in the Strip and avoid the invasion of the Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah

Considerable progress has been achieved in bringing the views of the Egyptian and Israeli delegations closer together regarding reaching a truce in Gaza, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV reported.

In addition, two high-ranking Egyptian security officials confirmed to Xinhua that the talks covered Egypt's "rescue initiative", which aims to prevent any more escalations in the Strip and avoid the invasion of the Gaza Strip's southernmost city of Rafah.

The initiative, according to the source, focuses on stopping all Israeli preparations to invade Rafah, the exchange of prisoners from Hamas and the Israeli sides, and a sustainable ceasefire.

Egypt is keeping in touch with all parties to reach a final formula for a truce deal in the Gaza Strip, and the details of the truce talks between Egypt and Israel are limited to security delegations only, Al-Qahera news said.

Qatari and Egyptian mediators, along with the United States, are seeking to reach a deal for a prisoner exchange and a second ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following the first one that lasted until early December last year.

Offensive in Rafah

Negotiations over Israel's upcoming offensive in Rafah and efforts to achieve a ceasefire deal with Hamas were "very good" between Israeli officials and a high-level Egyptian delegation, media and sources said.

The negotiations were "very good, focused, held in good spirits and progressed in all parameters", a senior Israeli official told Israeli media Ynet.

According to the Israeli official, Israel made a warning that it would not agree to foot-dragging by Hamas on the hostage deal to delay the military operation in Rafah, and he also mentioned that Israel had deployed reserve soldiers to the Gaza Strip

"In the background, there are very serious intentions from Israel to move ahead in Rafah," and the Egyptians are willing to exert pressure on Hamas to achieve a deal, the official was quoted as saying.

According to the Israeli official, Israel made a warning that it would not agree to foot-dragging by Hamas on the hostage deal to delay the military operation in Rafah, and he also mentioned that Israel had deployed reserve soldiers to the Gaza Strip.

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The officer told Israel's Channel 12 that "this is the last chance before we go into Rafah", reiterating that Israel would take 33 live hostages in the first phase of the agreement.

According to Channel 12, the official added that Israel is prepared to make more "significant compromises", such as permitting the evacuation of Gazan civilians in northern Gaza and removing its troops from a crucial corridor that divides Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli officials expressed concern that a potential ground operation in Gaza's Rafah could lead to international legal actions against Israel.

Israeli public Kan radio reported that Israel is preparing for another threat from the International Criminal Court in The Hague, with fears of arrest warrants being issued against senior Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the plan for the ground operation in Rafah but has not allowed the army to move yet, according to Israeli media.

In addition, Kan radio reported that Israel is expected to begin evacuating civilians from Rafah "soon" before the planned attack on the southernmost Gazan city, following a meeting of the Israeli wartime cabinet on Thursday.

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Call for hostage release

Israel estimates that there are about 134 Israeli hostages in Gaza, while Hamas announced the killing of 70 of them in Israeli indiscriminate airstrikes.

Israel holds more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails, whose conditions have worsened since the conflict in Gaza began, resulting in deaths among them, according to Palestinian organizations concerned with prisoners.

Eighteen countries issued a joint statement on Thursday, calling on Hamas to "immediately release" the hostages it holds, stating that doing so "will lead to an immediate and long-term ceasefire in Gaza"

Meanwhile, Hamas said it followed with interest the statement issued by the White House, signed by 18 countries, which primarily called for the immediate release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.

"We express our regret for the statement not addressing fundamental issues for our people, who suffer under a comprehensive genocide war, and for not emphasizing the necessity of a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the occupation army from the Gaza Strip."

They urged the international community to expose the genocide targeting children and civilians in Gaza, prioritize ending it, and resist Netanyahu's destabilizing policies aimed at the region, driven by personal political motives.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 34,356, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Friday.

In a press statement, the ministry said that the Israeli army killed 51 Palestinians and wounded 75 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 34,356 and injuries to 77,368 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct 7, 2023.

Eighteen countries issued a joint statement on Thursday, calling on Hamas to "immediately release" the hostages it holds, stating that doing so "will lead to an immediate and long-term ceasefire in Gaza".

Referring to nations with citizens held captive by Hamas since the attack on Israel last year, these countries stated that releasing the hostages "will facilitate additional humanitarian aid to all parts of Gaza and bring about a lasting cessation of hostilities".

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The countries explained that, in addition, residents in Gaza "will be able to return to their homes and lands with prior arrangements to ensure shelter and humanitarian assistance".

"Let us end this crisis so that we can all focus our efforts on bringing peace and stability to the region," they added.