Israel strikes Hezbollah sites in Lebanon | CNN

An Israeli delegation is expected to head to Cairo for ceasefire and hostage release negotiations that are due to resume today, an Israeli official told CNN.

A Hamas delegation was planning to travel to Cairo yesterday to hear from mediators about the latest in the talks, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said Saturday.

Several sticking points remain in the talks over a potential three-phase agreement as senior negotiators are expected to meet this weekend, and concerns have risen in recent weeks that efforts to reach a deal could be impacted by any broadening of the regional conflict.

Hamas’ al-Rishq reiterated that the group desires to enact the three-phase proposal introduced by US President Joe Biden, which would include the release of hostages from Gaza, a “full and complete ceasefire,” and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. 

But Hamas has publicly indicated they are unhappy with the latest proposal as it didn’t include a permanent ceasefire and introduced new conditions on the exchange of prisoners, among other issues.

Israel has made it clear that following the proposed initial six-week phase, a break in the fighting may be just that, and it is not ready to agree to a permanent ceasefire.

An Egyptian official familiar with the negotiations told CNN there are “still wide” differences before an agreement can be reached.

Egypt wants to see Israel “withdrawing its troops completely” from the Philadelphi corridor, an 8.7-mile strip of land in southern Gaza bordering Egypt currently controlled by Israeli forces, the official said.

Some context: In May, Biden laid out a three-phase proposal the administration said was submitted by Israel that would pair a release of hostages from Gaza with a “full and complete ceasefire” and a release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.