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Hamas continues to insist on a comprehensive deal involving the release of all hostages in exchange for ending the war in Gaza, a proposal rejected by Israel, which seeks a partial deal involving the release of some hostages.

On Saturday, a senior official from the Palestinian movement announced that Hamas was ready to agree to a “deal” to end the war in the Gaza Strip, including the simultaneous release of all remaining hostages and a five-year truce.

Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the official said, “Hamas is ready for a one-time prisoner exchange and a five-year truce,” as a Hamas delegation is expected to meet with mediators in Cairo later in the day.

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Before the Cairo meeting:

The statement comes after Hamas official Taher al-Nounou said a delegation would travel to Cairo on Saturday to hold talks about a ceasefire in Gaza.

“The Hamas negotiating delegation, headed by Khalil al-Hayya, traveled to Cairo where it will meet Egyptian officials tomorrow to discuss Hamas’s vision for ending the war,” he told AFP.

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These developments occur amid mounting pressure on Hamas, including intensified Israeli airstrikes, sharp criticism from the Fatah movement accusing Hamas of playing with the fate of the Palestinian people, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas directly accusing Hamas of “harming” the Palestinian cause.

At the same time, Mossad chief David Barnea traveled to Doha to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani to discuss efforts to reach a new agreement on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza, according to the Israeli news site Walla.

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Another blow:

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Civil Defense reported Saturday that an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City at dawn killed at least four people and that “more than 30” others might still be trapped under the rubble.

The Israeli army, which resumed its offensive against Hamas across Gaza over a month ago, did not immediately comment.

Since the renewed fighting, at least 2062 Palestinians have been killed, according to figures released Friday by the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

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The overall death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 51,439 since the war began, according to the ministry.

The war started following Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

During that attack, 251 people were taken hostage; 58 are believed to still be in Gaza. Israel says 34 of them have died or been killed.

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