'Significant progress' towards Gaza truce in Cairo talks: Egypt state-linked TV

Mediators and Hamas envoys have made "significant progress" towards a truce in Gaza, Egyptian state-linked TV reported Monday as the talks in Cairo entered a second day.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been pushing for a ceasefire in the almost five-month-old Israeli war on Gaza, with the latest proposal calling for a six-week halt to fighting and prisoner swap.

Al-Qahera News, linked to Egypt's intelligence services, quoted an unnamed senior official as saying: "Egypt continues its intense efforts to reach a truce before Ramadan", the Muslim fasting month which begins on March 10 or 11.

"There has been significant progress in the negotiations," the report said after the latest talks began Sunday in Cairo, without Israeli representation.

Reporting by AFP