While Israeli forces continue to get ready for what appears to be an invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah, fresh negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by the terrorist group are taking place as the Israel-Hamas war nears its seven-month milestone.
Over the weekend, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone about plans for a potential military operation in Rafah as well as stepping up the flow of humanitarian goods into Gaza, according to the White House.
Israel would not consent to ending the conflict as part of any possible agreement, an Israeli official told ABC News.
An Israeli official told ABC News on Saturday morning, "Israel will under no circumstances agree to the end of the war as part of an agreement to release our abductees."
"As the political echelon decided, the IDF will enter Rafah and destroy the remaining Hamas battalions there, whether or not there will be a temporary ceasefire for the release of our hostages."
According to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to ABC News, the United States has increased diplomatic pressure on Qatar to remove Hamas leaders from the nation in recent weeks.
This development coincides with the difficulty Qatar and other middlemen between the United States and Hamas have had in reaching a cease-fire agreement with the group, frequently voicing optimism that the party will agree to conditions that Hamas leaders ultimately reject.
In the days after the attacks on October 7, Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the Middle East could not keep on "business as usual" with Hamas.
On Saturday, a Hamas delegation will return to Egypt to carry on talks with Israel on a cease-fire.
A statement was issued by the organization expressing that the leadership exhibited a "positive spirit" in reaction to the proposed cease-fire.
The group released a statement saying, "We are going to Cairo in the same spirit to reach an agreement."
"We in [the] Hamas movement and the Palestinian resistance forces are determined to mature the agreement in a way that fulfills the demands of our people for a complete cessation of aggression, the withdrawal of the occupation forces, the return of the displaced, relief for our people, the start of reconstruction, and the completion of a serious exchange deal."
The United States will allocate $200 million to alleviate extreme hunger in conflict areas across the globe, such as Gaza, as stated by USAID Administrator Samantha Power on Friday.
According to a USAID official who spoke with ABC News, the funds will be used to maximize the production, procurement, and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a nutrient-rich paste made of peanuts that is especially helpful in treating malnutrition in children under five in locations like Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti.
RUTF is now being distributed in Gaza by USAID partners, and the organization intends to send more RUTF supplies into the enclave from Kenya via the maritime corridor shortly, the official continued.