The Israeli delegation is led by Ron Dermer, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, and includes top defense and intelligence officials. While Israeli and Hamas representatives are not meeting face toface, the discussions are being mediated by Egyptian officials. Simultaneous consultations are being held in Cairo, where Hamas, Qatari, and American officials are present.

The negotiations follow Hamas’s reported acceptance of the majority of a ceasefire framework proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which allegedly includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed those claims, labeling them as “baseless”, and reiterated that no Israeli agreement has been made on a staged pullout.

Speaking to the Israeli public on Saturday, Netanyahu confirmed that the release of all hostages held by Hamas remains the top priority for Israel. He stressed that no ceasefire deal will be finalized without guarantees on the safe return of Israeli civilians and soldiers still believed to be held in Gaza.

“We will not be pressured into any agreement that does not bring our people home,” Netanyahu said during a televised address. “Israel stands firm no staged withdrawal, no false promises, only a full resolution.”

According to Israeli officials, a 72-hour countdown will begin only once Hamas formally approves the deal in full. That timeline is meant to provide an opportunity for both sides to finalize security arrangements and for international mediators to ensure compliance.

While diplomatic sources describe the current atmosphere as “cautiously optimistic,” major hurdles remain particularly around the sequence of prisoner exchanges, guarantees of non-renewed hostilities, and humanitarian access to Gaza.

This round of indirect diplomacy marks one of the most serious pushes toward a truce since hostilities escalated earlier this year. The outcome may hinge on the ability of mediators in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh to bridge the wide trust gap between the two sides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, following a security cabinet meeting held on Sunday evening.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the move in a statement, noting that the decision was made upon the recommendation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The resumption of aid is described as a necessary operational step to support the continued expansion of military operations against Hamas.

According to the statement, Israel will allow the entry of a “basic quantity of food” into Gaza to prevent the development of a hunger crisis among the civilian population.

“This is being done to support the IDF’s operational objectives and to avoid a humanitarian collapse,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

The decision comes amid growing international pressure on Israel to ease its months-long blockade of Gaza and enable humanitarian access. Several global organizations and foreign governments have warned of worsening conditions in the densely populated coastal enclave, where food, water, and medical supplies have become increasingly scarce.

While Israeli officials maintain that Hamas continues to pose a major security threat, humanitarian groups argue that urgent relief is essential to avoid a broader catastrophe.

The renewed aid flow is expected to be closely monitored, with both military and international observers tracking distribution and access in the coming days.