A Hamas delegation is set to travel to Cairo on Saturday for discussions on a potential ceasefire in Gaza.
A senior Hamas official confirmed on Friday that the group will meet with Egyptian officials to explore ideas for halting the ongoing conflict and addressing a possible prisoner exchange.
The talks come after a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a key Hamas ally.
Simultaneously, the United States has launched a diplomatic initiative, collaborating with Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The violence began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched attacks on Israel, killing over 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In retaliation, Israeli military strikes in Gaza have claimed the lives of over 44,000 people, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
Some 251 hostages were captured by Hamas during the October attacks, with 97 still believed to be held in Gaza.
A brief ceasefire in November saw the release of 100 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners, marking a rare breakthrough in the deadlock.
Despite several diplomatic attempts, including efforts by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, negotiations for a lasting ceasefire and hostage release have yet to succeed.