Israel and Hamas are conducting indirect negotiations, with Egypt serving as mediator between the sides, Channel 2 reported on Friday.
According to the report, the sides are discussing the easing of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, including the possible opening of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to construction materials and other staple items.
The Egyptian-brokered cease fire agreement which brought Israel's Operation Pillar of Defense to an end in November, included understandings between Israel and Hamas that "opening the [Gaza] crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of goods," would be discussed at a future date.
Egyptian media reported Friday that an Israeli delegation met with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday to discuss a number of regional security issues as well as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
According to the Channel 2 report, the Israeli delegation's trip to Cairo was part of the indirect talks with Hamas.
The Egyptian website Al-Shorouk reported Friday that an Israeli delegation departed from Cairo on Thursday evening after meeting Egyptian officials to discuss security issues in Sinai, the alleged Israeli strike in Syria, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process,
According to the al-Masreyoon website, an Israeli delegation composed of four officials arrived in Cairo on Thursday on an Israeli military plane. The Israelis met with members of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service while the plane waited on the runway. Sources reported that the talks were headed by the Egyptian intelligence chief Raafat Shehata. The talks were said to have covered the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the reported Israeli attack on Syria, according to the sources.
The Egyptian website, al-Masry al-Youm also reported about the story on Thursday, saying that the meeting was planned to last several hours, according to unidentified sources.
The meeting was also said to concern the security situation in the Sinai and border smuggling issues, according to the same sources. The Egyptians and Israeli officials also were said to have discussed a possible prisoner swap, which could include the Israeli citizen, Andre Pshenichnikov, who was caught crossing into Egypt a couple of months ago, for a number of Egyptian prisoners.
Turkish daily Hurriyet reported Monday that Israel has authorized Turkey to transport construction materials into Gaza in order to build a Turkish-funded hospital in the coastal territory.
In addition to serving as a goodwill gesture to Ankara, the Israeli move was also described by Hurriyet as part of Israel's softening of the Gaza blockade in the aftermath of Operation Pillar of Defense.