Tel Aviv [Israel]: Israeli forces intensified their military operations in northern Gaza’s Jabalia area, targeting Hamas as the group attempts to regroup, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday. Simultaneously, an Egyptian security delegation is expected to arrive in Israel to mediate a potential Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The IDF disclosed that soldiers identified a terrorist preparing to launch rockets from a building near a weapons depot. Acting swiftly, troops encircled the area, neutralized the terrorist, and destroyed the depot and rockets.
Egyptian negotiators aim to build on a recently brokered two-month ceasefire in Lebanon, which brought calm to the Israel-Hezbollah front as of Wednesday morning. Hamas has since indicated readiness for negotiations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked on Tuesday that isolating Hamas via the Hezbollah ceasefire could lead to a truce with the Gaza-based group. However, previous US, Qatari, and Egyptian efforts to resolve the 14-month conflict and secure the release of 101 hostages held by Hamas have failed.
Hamas’s conditions for a ceasefire include ending the war, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and releasing Palestinian prisoners. Israel has agreed only to consider a temporary ceasefire, contingent on receiving a list of living hostages from Hamas. Reports suggest the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza may reopen under Palestinian Authority oversight as part of the negotiations.
After Qatar ceased its mediation efforts and expelled Hamas leadership in mid-November, Egypt is seeking to increase its influence by brokering a truce.
The conflict, which escalated following Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border, has resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 252 hostages being taken. Among the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Additionally, Hamas continues to hold two Israeli civilians and the remains of two soldiers from previous conflicts.