Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and CIA Director William Burns discussed on Tuesday ways to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange prisoners between Israel and the Palestinian factions in the Strip.

This came during their meeting in Cairo, which Burns arrived on Monday for an unannounced visit, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidency.

The presidency said that the two sides discussed "the latest developments in the joint efforts to reach a truce agreement and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip."

During the meeting, the Egyptian President stressed his "rejection of the continuation of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip."

He stressed "the need to take serious and effective steps to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region," stressing "the importance of implementing the two-state solution, within the framework of a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue."

The presidency quoted Burns as appreciating “the Egyptian efforts seeking a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and implementing humanitarian aid.”

In this context, a “high-ranking” Egyptian source reported to Cairo News Channel that “truce negotiations between Israel and Hamas are continuing in Cairo, amid intense activity by the Egyptian security delegation to bring the views of all parties closer together,” without further details.

In another statement carried by the same channel, he said, “A high-level source said that the Egyptian security delegation is heading to Doha tomorrow to bring the views of Hamas and Israel closer together.”

On Monday, the official Hebrew Broadcasting Authority reported that the head of the Shin Bet Security Service, Ronen Bar, had arrived in Cairo, at the head of a delegation “to participate in the negotiations hosted by Cairo this week, to discuss the outstanding points in the possible ceasefire agreement in Gaza.”

The authority added that "Mossad (Israeli intelligence) chief David Barnea will go to Doha on Wednesday, where he will meet with the Qatari prime minister (Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani), Burns, and the head of Egyptian intelligence (Abbas Kamel)."

For months, mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would guarantee an exchange of prisoners from both sides, and a ceasefire, leading to ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid into the Palestinian Strip, which has been under siege for 18 years.