Senior Israeli officials, including Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, met with top Egyptian officials in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss ongoing efforts to secure a hostage release deal in Gaza, according to a report by The Times of Israel.
The report states the visit, which was planned weeks in advance, was primarily focused on discussing issues related to the border between Egypt and Gaza.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated on Monday that there are increasing signs of movement in negotiations. Saar noted that Hamas had reportedly asked other militant factions in Gaza to provide updated lists of hostages in their custody, both dead and alive.
“We can be more optimistic than before, but we are not there yet,” Saar said at a press conference in Jerusalem. He reiterated Israel’s firm stance that no ceasefire in Gaza will occur without the release of the remaining hostages.
Hamas fighters took over 250 hostages during their October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, according to Israeli reports. Following the attack, Israel launched an extensive military operation in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 44,700 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.
A Palestinian official familiar with the Cairo mediation efforts said that Hamas’s recent request for updated hostage lists signals a willingness to move forward with negotiations. While Hamas officials have not publicly commented on the talks, an official from a group allied with Hamas expressed hope that progress could lead to a deal.
On Monday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced Israel’s cautious optimism, linking Hamas’s increasing isolation—particularly in light of the recent collapse of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime—to an opportunity for negotiations. Netanyahu told reporters that efforts are underway but warned that the outcome remains uncertain.
Families of hostages have expressed hope following a recent meeting with Netanyahu. According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the prime minister indicated that conditions are improving for a deal to move forward. However, each side continues to accuse the other of delaying progress. Saar acknowledged that Hamas’s earlier hardline position may have softened, improving the overall prospects for an agreement.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued overnight and into Monday. Medical sources reported casualties across the enclave, including four children killed in Al-Maghazi camp in central Gaza and six others in Beit Lahiya in the north. Additionally, airstrikes near Rafah reportedly killed at least 11 people. Residents in Al-Maghazi said Israeli tanks briefly entered eastern sections of the camp, prompting civilian evacuations.
