Israeli Delegation to Cairo to Discuss Ceasefire in Gaza

Israel intends to send a delegation to the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that Tel Aviv would send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations on the ceasefire in Gaza and the exchange of detainees, which will take place on Saturday or Sunday. Last Monday, Netanyahu mentioned that Hamas is obstructing the reaching of an agreement regarding the ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. He added that Israel has not changed any of its conditions for reaching an agreement. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is "committed to the principles of the original proposal, which include the release of as many live hostages as possible, Israeli control over the border corridor between Gaza and Egypt, and preventing weapons and Palestinian militants from returning to northern Gaza." On its side, Hamas accused Israel of hindering the ceasefire, stating that Netanyahu's government has introduced new conditions to the proposal for a long-term truce in the latest negotiations held through international mediators. In a statement on Monday, the movement asserted that Israel's latest response included new conditions. Hamas explained that "it is clear from what the mediators conveyed that Netanyahu has returned to a strategy of procrastination and evasion of reaching an agreement by imposing new conditions and demands."