Egypt is making "intensive" efforts to conclude a truce agreement in the Gaza Strip, amidst talks about upcoming negotiations in Cairo that indicate the imminent completion of the hostage deal, coinciding with Qatar's official announcement of its return to mediation after about a month of suspension due to the lack of seriousness on the part of the parties.

This movement, which coincided with Doha’s talk of “non-essential differences” between Hamas and Israel, is seen by experts who spoke with Asharq Al-Awsat as “a closer approach to reaching an agreement in light of the ongoing Egyptian and American movement during the recent period regarding concluding a truce and Israeli expectations that there are opportunities to achieve this matter.” They expected that negotiations would soon return to reaching a ceasefire agreement before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, as he recently requested.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stressed, on Saturday, in a press conference in Copenhagen, that there are "intensive Egyptian efforts to immediately stop the war in the Gaza Strip," pointing out the importance of concerted efforts to prevent the region from slipping into a large-scale regional confrontation.

An informed Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat in a brief statement that “Egypt is accelerating its efforts to reach an agreement at a time when the conditions for its conclusion appear ripe.”

In the opinion of the academic specializing in Israeli affairs, Dr. Ahmed Fouad Anwar, the role played by Egypt in the understanding between the Fatah and Hamas movements regarding the administration of Gaza after the war confirms the possibility of reaching a deal. The progress achieved between the two movements under the auspices of Cairo carries an indication of acceptance of the Egyptian proposals for a ceasefire in Gaza. Also, the visit that an Egyptian delegation made to Israel recently indicates that a positive step has been taken to conclude the deal. These visits often involve discussion of details, and come when preliminaries appear that open the door to progress.

Cairo sponsored a third round of talks last week between the Fatah and Hamas movements, after two other rounds in October and November, regarding the formation of an “administrative body” for the Gaza Strip, called the “Community Committee to Support the People of the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas announced, according to a press release issued by the movement on Thursday, “approval of the Egyptian proposal to form a community support committee through comprehensive national mechanisms (which it did not mention).” At the same time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar indicated that “there is now an opportunity for a hostage deal,” adding: “Israel is serious about reaching a hostage deal, and I hope that we will be able to do this, and do it as soon as possible.”

According to Anwar, “The intensive and tireless Egyptian effort, especially with the agreement to manage the Strip, says that we are closer than ever to seeing a truce agreement,” adding: “The positivity of these efforts is confirmed by American media talks about the possibility of Israel sending a security delegation to Cairo to further discuss the details, in light of the fact that Hamas today is more prepared to make a deal, and perhaps make concessions in the part of an immediate cessation of the war.”

All this Egyptian activity and Israeli hints may lead to a “close truce” before Trump comes to power, according to the assessment of Palestinian political analyst Dr. Ayman Al-Raqab, noting that the matter depends on an explicit Israeli approval that may appear on Monday or Tuesday, to sit at the negotiating table after reviewing the current proposal for a truce, which is a calm that may last between 45 and 60 days, and includes the release of elderly and child hostages, some Palestinian prisoners, increasing relief aid, and opening the Rafah crossing.

After about a month of suspending its mediation and confirming that it would resume it when Israel and Hamas showed “willingness and seriousness,” Doha announced on Saturday the return of its mediation activity, according to what the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani, stated during a session at the “Doha International Forum.”

According to the Qatari official, “the differences regarding the agreement between Hamas and Israel are not fundamental,” adding: “We have returned to our role in the negotiations regarding Gaza, after we saw new momentum following Trump’s election, and we are cooperating with his administration regarding the negotiations,” according to what was reported by the Qatari Al Jazeera channel.

The Qatari Prime Minister had stated, in media statements on Wednesday, that officials in his country aim to reach a ceasefire in Gaza before Trump officially assumes his duties.

Al-Raqab believes that Doha had previously announced, about a month ago, the suspension of its role in mediation, due to the lack of seriousness from the parties in reaching a ceasefire agreement in the Strip, and its official announcement of the return means that there are new and serious developments from the parties.

In Al-Raqab’s opinion, the momentum that Doha is referring to may be due to the great efforts exerted by Cairo, which led to Hamas’s agreement to form a committee to “manage the Strip” in an independent formation that does not exist in it, amid Israel’s repeated talk about the existence of an opportunity to complete an agreement.

Anwar believes that what also enhances the chances of this truce this time is Qatar’s official return to its activities, in addition to the rapid regional developments, especially in Syria, which may negatively affect interest in Gaza, and give Israel more space to implement its agenda while shedding light on Syria, adding: “Therefore, pushing for a deal in Gaza is a necessary matter now, before international interest in the Palestinian cause declines.”

“The coming days will reveal Israel’s intentions, after Hamas showed political flexibility, with fears that Netanyahu will return to inventing obstacles and conditions the more talk about the deal increases and the mediation approaches a settlement; this may increase the problems surrounding it, as happened in all previous rounds,” he added, “However, what reduces this is Trump’s emphasis on the importance of concluding a deal before he actually comes to power on January 20.”