Egypt: Hamas, Israel both need to show ‘flexibility’ to close Gaza truce and hostage release deal

Hamas and Israel must show “flexibility” if they are to strike a deal for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal in the seven-month war in the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s foreign ministry says in a statement.

The readout of a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says both diplomats agreed on “the importance of urging the parties to show flexibility and make all the necessary efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement and put an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.”

The Egyptian statement comes after Hamas said early this morning that its negotiators at ceasefire talks this week in Cairo had left for Doha, saying Israel had “rejected the proposal submitted by the mediators and raised objections to it.”