Hamas announced on Saturday that it is reviewing the latest Israeli counter proposal regarding a potential ceasefire in Gaza. This announcement follows reports of a delegation from Egypt, acting as a mediator, arriving in Israel in an attempt to restart stalled negotiations.
Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas’s political arm in Gaza, stated that the movement had received Israel’s official response to its position, which was conveyed to Egyptian and Qatari mediators on April 13. He added that Hamas would carefully study the proposal before providing a response.
Previous Hamas demands for a permanent ceasefire have been rejected by Israel, leading to ongoing efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States to broker a new truce deal in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza was also on the agenda for an international summit scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia over the weekend. The World Economic Forum’s special meeting in Riyadh will feature a session focused on Gaza, with participation from Palestinian and Egyptian officials, as well as the United Nations aid coordinator for the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, witnesses reported fresh Israeli strikes around Rafah, Gaza’s southern city, ahead of planned Israeli military operations in the area. These strikes come amid opposition from the international community due to the presence of displaced civilians in Rafah.
In response to escalating tensions, protests have erupted on university campuses across the United States, with demonstrators opposing Israeli military action in Rafah.
Additionally, the situation has seen further violence, including a stabbing attack near Tel Aviv that left an 18-year-old woman seriously wounded, as well as a car crash involving Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir after he addressed journalists at the scene.