Egypt is working on brokering a long-term cease-fire deal between Israel and Palestine. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities on Thursday re-opened the Kerem Shalom border crossing with the Gaza Strip, following the quietest period in the region in almost a month. Our correspondent in Gaza Noor Harazeen brings us more.

A senior Hamas delegation, accompanied by Palestinian officials, arrived in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Wednesday to discuss an Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire. The talks aim to pave the way for Gaza's reconstruction and lead to an eventual prisoner swap.

The Palestinian delegation is expected to resume talks with the Egyptian mediators, who will then relay the Palestinian demands to the Israeli negotiators.

Egypt and the United Nations have long pursued a permanent Israeli ceasefire. Their peace-building efforts also include pushing for reconciliation between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions.

DR. SAMIR ABU MADDALAH DEMOCRATIC FRONT FOR THE LIBERATION OF PALESTINE "There are opportunities and there have been attempts for a long time, led by Egypt and Nikolay Mladenov, the United Nations delegate, talks about a ceasefire and to return to the 2014 agreements. There seem to be great opportunities for a new truce. But the Palestinian factions will abide by the commitment of the Israeli side. If Israel breaks the truce, the Palestinian factions will respond to that."

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday announced the Kerem Shalom border crossing would reopen, and the fishing area extended to 9 miles from the Gaza shore.

Lieberman added that the opening of the crossing comes after three days without rockets or gunfire from Gaza. It's intended to signal to the Gazan population that maintaining peace is in their own best interests.

OMAR SHAABAN DIRECTOR, BAL THINK FOUNDATION FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES "If Israel agrees to the truce, as one of the important parties, it will mean lifting the siege on the people, and the return of the movement of goods to and from the Gaza Strip, the Kerem Shalom Crossing, and an increase in commercial traffic from 200 trucks to 800 trucks. This is positive, but not enough."

Israel closed Kerem Shalom on July 9th to retaliate for burning kites being flown into Israeli territory. The crossing is the only way goods are allowed to pass into the Gaza Strip. Noor Harazeen, CGTN, Gaza.