Israeli army radio reported that "Egypt sent a message to Israel indicating that if an agreement on the hostage deal and a ceasefire is reached, Cairo will work with the United States to help build a high-tech underground barrier to prevent the smuggling of weapons into Gaza." According to the report, "work on the wall could start as soon as the first days of a potential truce."
On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister's office announced the conditions set by Benjamin Netanyahu for the anticipated deal with Hamas:
- Any ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip must allow Israel to continue fighting until it achieves the objectives of the war.
- The agreement must prevent the smuggling of weapons to Hamas across the Gaza-Egypt border.
- It must not allow thousands of militants to return to northern Gaza.
- Israel will work to bring back the largest number of living hostages.
A Hamas leader stated that the movement agreed to allow negotiations on the hostages "to start without a permanent ceasefire." The official, who requested anonymity, reminded that "Hamas had previously conditioned that Israel agree to a complete and permanent ceasefire" to engage in negotiations regarding the hostages.
He added, "This step has been bypassed as mediators have pledged that as long as the prisoner negotiations are ongoing, the ceasefire will continue." He continued, "Hamas has retracted its condition for a permanent ceasefire, agreeing to start negotiations without a permanent ceasefire."
Officials stated that Israel had previously strongly opposed Hamas's demands for a permanent ceasefire.
