For the first time in years, there are positive signs of a possible long-term solution for Gaza agreed by Israel and the main Palestinian factions. 

The main breakthrough seems to have been achieved with the arrival of delegations from both Fatah and Hamas in Cairo over the weekend. 

Reports suggest the plan is expected to have two main stages. In the first stage, in return for guarantees on a prolonged ceasefire, Israel and Egypt will reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing from Israel to cargo and the Rafah crossing from Egypt to passengers. 

If the ceasefire holds, the next stage would be the release of Israeli citizens held in Gaza, and the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in action, followed by the start of major infrastructure work in Gaza.  

Officially, the Hamas and Islamic Jihad position is that they will not support any long-term agreement if it does not include an immediate end to the closure imposed by Israel and Egypt on Gaza. 

But it is clear to all sides that any arrangement will have to be gradual. 

The main obstacle that remains to any long-term solution is the lack of cooperation between Hamas and the Fatah faction, which dominates the Palestinian Authority and wants to control all funds for rebuilding Gaza. 

It is trying to prevent attempts by the US and Canadian governments to fund programmes in the Strip independently. 

Both Palestinian factions still claim they want reconciliation but have proved incapable of working out how the Palestinian Authority will retake control of the Gaza Strip. Largely, this is due to Hamas refusing to relinquish its weapons, but also to President Mahmoud Abbas’ reluctance to give up his economic sanctions on Gaza. 

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov has been proving himself singularly effective both in achieving speedy ceasefires between Israel and Hamas and negotiating between the rival Palestinian factions. After shuttling between Jerusalem, Gaza, Cairo and Ramallah in recent days, he has expressed optimism. 

There were two rounds of escalation in the last month in which hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel and Israel responded with dozens of air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. The fact that both were contained within 24 hours underlines the fact that neither side is anxious for a protracted conflict. 

Last Friday, three Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire during the Friday protests near the Gaza border fences, but there was no further escalation. 

That, and the fact that Mr Mladenov has managed to get Hamas and Fatah delegations around the same table in Cairo is progress in itself.