Egypt Warns of Regional Instability as Hamas-Israel Ceasefire Talks Begin Amid Escalating Conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon
Egypt is sending a high-level delegation, led by intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, to Israel to try and broker a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The delegation will warn against a potential Israeli offensive in Rafah, which could have serious consequences for regional stability.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon attacked an Israeli military convoy along the border, resulting in the death of an Israeli civilian.
Egypt has made it clear that it will not tolerate Israeli troop deployments along Gaza's border with Egypt.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an ambush on an Israeli convoy near the Lebanon border on Thursday, resulting in the death of an Israeli civilian.
The Israeli military reported low-intensity fighting along the border, with tensions escalating due to recent Israeli targeting of senior Hezbollah militants.
The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people and resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with over 380 deaths reported, including civilians and Hezbollah members.
Separately, Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least five people.
Approximately 1.2 million people out of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have fled to Rafah due to Israeli preparations for an offensive.
Rafah has been subjected to daily raids by the Israeli military, which has amassed tanks and armored vehicles in the area.
In central Gaza, four people were killed by Israeli tank shelling.
A ship in the Gulf of Aden was attacked, possibly by Yemen's Houthi rebels, in relation to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
A Hamas political official announced that the Islamic militant group is open to a five-year or longer truce with Israel, which began in October due to unprecedented tensions.
A raid by militants into southern Israel resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians, and the abduction of around 250 hostages.
Israel reports that around 100 hostages and the remains of over 30 people are still being held by the militants.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, with around two-thirds being children and women.