Hamas delegation heads to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks
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Hamas officials are set to visit Cairo on Saturday for discussions with Egyptian authorities about a potential ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange agreement, according to a Hamas representative.
The talks follow a recently implemented ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese group allied with Hamas.
The Hamas official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the visit and stated that the discussions would focus on "ideas for a ceasefire and a prisoner accord in the Gaza Strip."
The ceasefire talks in Cairo come amid renewed international efforts to end hostilities in Gaza. The United States has announced a diplomatic initiative involving Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt aimed at achieving a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
The October 7 attacks resulted in 1,207 deaths, primarily civilians, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which has led to the deaths of 44,363 individuals, based on figures from Gaza's health ministry, considered reliable by the United Nations.
On October 7, Hamas and its allies took 251 hostages, of which 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 individuals presumed dead, according to the Israeli military. The only prior ceasefire, in November 2023, facilitated the release of about 100 hostages by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The ongoing conflict has seen multiple failed attempts at securing a long-term ceasefire and the release of hostages. Efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt throughout 2024 have yet to yield a lasting resolution.