Egyptian mediators held another round of talks on Saturday with a visiting delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian officials briefed the Hamas team the response of the Israeli side to an Egyptian ceasefire initiative and Israel's reservations to the vision of Hamas, the state MENA news agency quoted a well-placed source as saying.

Meanwhile, Amos Gilad, head of the Diplomatic-Security Bureau of Israeli Defense Ministry, visited Egypt for the second time on Friday following his talks with Egyptian mediators on Thursday.

Gilad presented the Israeli reply on the ceasefire initiative during his visit to Cairo.

According to Egyptian media reports, Israel responded to the Egyptian ceasefire initiative "favorably," but had some " reservations" on Hamas' vision.

As the Israeli military operation against Gaza entered its 22nd day on Saturday, mediation efforts mounted at various levels for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

On Saturday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel should "stop its military operation immediately," Mubarak said in a speech on the Egyptian state television.

The Israeli operation on Gaza, which began on December 27, 2008, has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians and wounding over 5,200 others.