CAIRO: A high-level Egyptian delegation was in Israel for talks on Friday amid a new diplomatic push for a truce in the Gaza war and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The visit followed a trip to Cairo on Thursday by Israeli army chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet domestic intelligence service head Ronen Bar.

Officials in Israel described the latest moves as “an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks” after previous mediation efforts led by Qatar broke down. They told the Egyptian delegation that Israel was ready to give hostage negotiations “one last chance” to reach a deal before moving forward with an invasion of the southern city of Rafah.

“Israel told Egypt that it is serious about preparations for the operation in Rafah and that it will not let Hamas drag its feet,” one official said.

Egypt is concerned about a potential influx of Palestinian refugees from Gaza if the war continues with the long-threatened Israeli offensive into Rafah, and has taken an increasingly active role in the negotiations.

“The Egyptians are really picking up the mantle on this. Egypt wants to see progress, not least because it’s worried about a prospective Rafah operation,” the official said.

Israel was increasingly looking past Qatar as a main broker, according to the official, after it failed to respond to Israeli demands to expel Hamas leaders from its territory or curb their finances.

“Qatar is still involved but in a lesser capacity,” the official said. “It’s clear to everyone they failed to deliver, even when it came to expelling Hamas or even shutting down their bank accounts.”

Hamas officials said they still considered Qatar a key mediator, alongside Egypt.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he saw fresh momentum in the talks.

“I believe that there is a renewed effort … to try to find a way forward,” he said “Do I think that there is … new life in these hostage talks? I believe there is.” 

No new proposals

An official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel had no new proposals to make, although it was willing to consider a limited truce in which 33 hostages would be released by Hamas, instead of the 40 previously under discussion.

“There are no current hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, nor is there a new Israeli offer in that regard,” the official said. “What there is, is an attempt by Egypt to restart the talks with an Egyptian proposal that would entail the release of 33 hostages — women, elderly and infirm.”

According to Israeli media reports, Israeli intelligence officials believe there are 33 female, elderly and sick hostages left alive in Gaza, out of a total of 133 still being held by Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.

There was no decision on how long any truce would last but if such an exchange were agreed, the pause in fighting would be “definitely less than six weeks,” the official said.

The visit by the Egyptian delegation came a day after the United States and 17 other countries appealed to Hamas to release all of its hostages as a pathway to end the crisis in Gaza. Hamas vowed not to relent to international pressure.

Hamas said it was “open to any ideas or proposals that take into account the needs and rights of our people.” However it stuck to central demands Israel has rejected, and said it criticized the statement for not calling for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

ISLAMABAD: In a room filled with discarded computer components and broken electronic items, 21-year-old Sameer Asif works under a bright fluorescent light, meticulously shaping an old motherboard into a heart-shaped pendant.
His project is more than a hobby; it’s the core of his entrepreneurial dream, “Wired Wonders,” a venture launched in 2023 to transform electronic waste into wearable art.
Jewelry crafted from electronic scrap aligns with a global trend in sustainable fashion, appealing to a young demographic that values innovation, individuality and ethical lifestyle choices.
Despite its niche market appeal, this form of jewelry reflects a growing interest in repurposing materials that would otherwise contribute to landfills, offering a creative solution to the challenge of electronic waste.
For Asif, however, the whole thing began as an accident.
“I was always into arts and crafts as a child,” he told Arab News in a conversation this week. “I enjoyed giving handmade things, and the first-ever necklace I made from a motherboard was also a gift for my friend.”
“She wore it to the university, and people started asking her about it,” he continued. “That’s when we thought this could actually become a business since people were interested in it.”
Asif said he was fascinated by electronics since childhood, using his tools to dismantle sophisticated gadgets to understand how they worked.
“When I was like five or six years old, on my birthday, someone gifted me a toy set of mechanical things,” he recalled. “It had nuts and screws, and it came with a screwdriver. I used that screwdriver to open my brother’s PlayStation 2 which he really loved.”
“I just opened it but couldn’t fit it back,” he recalled with a smile, saying his brother and parents were not pleased with him.
Asif partnered with his friend Maham Usman to launch Wired Wonders, asking her to manage the social media, sales and marketing.
Asked about the challenges of developing a small niche business, Usman said the biggest problem was procuring discarded motherboards that were not readily available.
“There are like one or two scrapyards in Rawalpindi where they sell discarded electronics in bulk,” she said. “To tackle this challenge, we have started a recycling initiative where we ask people to donate the electronic devices they want to dispense with. Not only will this help us with business, but it is also good for the environment.”
Making a single piece of jewelry can take about two hours. The process involves cutting and shaping motherboard pieces, removing the sharp edges and then pouring resin – a transparent, viscous liquid – over it for shine and preservation. Thereafter, the piece is left to dry for 24 hours.
Asked about the prices of their products, the Wired Wonders’ team informed that they ranged from $1.40 to $7.
“The gold and copper in motherboards add unique value to our jewelry,” Usman said.