A meeting was held on Monday in Cairo between Egyptian officials and an Israeli security delegation, led by Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, to discuss a new proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, informed Egyptian sources said on the same day. The sources revealed that Egypt has put forward a new initiative calling for a temporary six-month truce in exchange for the release of half of the Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza. This development follows Israel's recent rejection of a previous Egyptian proposal that envisioned a longer five-year truce in return for the release of all Israeli hostages in the coastal enclave, according to the same sources. The sources further detailed that the new Egyptian proposal outlines a phased withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza and includes provisions for the reconstruction of the territory. Earlier in the day, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel reported that Egypt's intelligence chief, Hassan Mahmoud Rashad, is scheduled to meet with the Israeli negotiating team in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The channel reported that this meeting follows a Hamas delegation's recent visit to Egypt, where discussions centered on a ceasefire in the Strip. On Saturday, a Hamas delegation led by senior leader Khalil al-Hayya agreed in Cairo to release all Israeli hostages in exchange for a five-year truce, said an Egyptian security source. According to Israel's state-owned broadcaster Kan, Israel rejected the proposal. Israel halted the entry of aid supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the expiration of the first six-week phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that started on January 19. Israel claimed the move was due to Hamas' rejection of its offer to extend the first phase. Israeli forces then resumed strikes across Gaza on March 18, effectively ending the phased truce. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, have been ongoing for weeks, aiming to end the prolonged conflict in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023. SHOTLIST: FILE: Cairo, Egypt - July 24, 2022 1. Various of Egyptian national flag; FILE: Cairo, Egypt - Date Unknown 2. Various of city view; FILE: Israel - Nov 1, 2022 3. Various of Israeli Parliament Knesset, national flag of Israel; FILE: Tel Aviv, Israel - June 2021 4. National flags of Israel; Gaza City, Gaza Strip - April 14, 2025 5. Various of rubble after Israeli airstrike on hospital; Gaza Strip - April 13, 2025 6. Various of interior of destroyed hospital, destroyed wards; Gaza City, Gaza Strip - April 4, 2025 7. Various of burnt car, rubble, damaged buildings; Gaza City, Gaza Strip - April 9, 2025 8. Ambulance driving through debris-strewn street; FILE: Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 2025 9. Various of injured persons being carried from ambulance into hospital; 10. Patients in hospital; Gaza City, Gaza Strip - April 14, 2025 11. Injured man on gurney; Khan Younis, Gaza Strip - April 15, 2025 12. Various of bombarded buildings, displaced Palestinians fleeing with belongings. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]