The ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions led by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip continued on Saturday. Officials stated that Egyptian mediators have been in discussions with both sides to solidify the truce. The ceasefire began before dawn on Friday, ending 11 days of reciprocal shelling across the border that resulted in new destruction in Gaza, a shock in Israel, and raised international concerns about slipping into a broader conflict. Hamas officials told Reuters that Egypt, which mediated the cessation of hostilities with U.S. support, sent a delegation to Israel on Friday to discuss ways to stabilize the ceasefire, including assistance for Palestinians in Gaza. The officials explained that delegation members have since been shuttling between Israel and Gaza, and talks continued on Saturday.
Despite clashes breaking out on Friday between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem, there were no reports of Hamas launching rockets from Gaza or Israel conducting airstrikes on the territory until Saturday morning. U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that Washington would work with the United Nations to provide humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance in Gaza, with guarantees to prevent the funding from being used to arm Hamas, which the West considers a terrorist organization. Palestinian officials in Gaza reported that the number of Palestinians killed as a result of Israeli air and artillery strikes reached 248, including 66 children. Paramedics stated that Palestinian attacks led to the death of 13 people in Israel, including two children, a soldier, and three foreign workers.
