The report said, citing Egyptian officials, that Israeli Secret Intelligence Service (Mossad) chief David Barnea is considering a trip to Cairo this week after mediators over the weekend presented to the movement a deal to release hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting.
The report also cited an Israeli official as saying that the Jewish state could send a delegation "depending on developments in the negotiations."
The proposal, which Israel helped draft but has yet to agree to, has two phases: the release of at least 20 hostages over three weeks in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners during the first phase, the length of which could be extended at a rate of one day for another hostage, and a 10-week ceasefire, during which Hamas and Israel would agree on a larger hostage swap and extended ceasefire that could last up to a year, the report cited Egyptian officials as saying.
The report also cited US officials as saying that the United States is discussing with the Jewish state how Israel plans to reduce the risk to civilians if its Rafah offensive goes ahead. They added that an Israeli plan to safeguard civilians "needs more work," and they want Israel to demonstrate how it would provide shelter, food and medical assistance to Palestinians displaced by the operation, the report said.
A senior United Nations official told the newspaper that the evacuation of civilians from Rafah to other parts of the Gaza Strip would take at least ten days, but it "could happen faster" should civilians be transferred across the border into Egypt.
Israeli broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday, citing sources, that Israel will not send a delegation to continue talks with Hamas in Cairo until the Palestinian movement responds to the existing proposal for a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages.
Israeli news portal Walla earlier reported, citing a senior Israeli official, that an Israeli delegation would travel to Egypt on Tuesday to continue negotiations on the release of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will carry out an operation in Rafah regardless of whether a deal on hostages is reached with Palestinian movement Hamas or not. He added that the Israeli military will enter Rafah to eliminate the remaining Hamas battalions as there was no other choice.