The Gaza war is the latest in decades of conflict between Israel and Palestinians. It began on Oct. 7, 2023, when fighters from the Islamist group Hamas stormed border defences from Gaza and attacked Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and seizing about 250 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel announced on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza's future.

Israel seeks to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire to secure the release of more detainees while intensive talks continue in Cairo.

Israel announced on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza's future.

Negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Cairo, and an Israeli official says the country's negotiating team was returning home Friday evening.

Negotiations to extend a fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas were underway Friday in Cairo, after Israeli and Qatari delegations traveled to the Egyptian capital.

Israel and Hamas have begun negotiating the terms of the next phase of the cease-fire deal just two days before the truce expires, Egyptian mediators say. “Intensive discussions” have resumed in Cairo on Thursday,