Israeli officials are considering a small-scale cease-fire deal with Hamas proposed by Egypt in an effort to build momentum for a larger agreement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s arrival in Israel is part of a Middle East tour aimed at renewing talks for a comprehensive deal to end the escalating conflict following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
As Israel continues its deadly offensive in northern Gaza, Egyptian intelligence head Hassan Mahmoud Rashad suggested a two-week truce in exchange for the release of six Israeli hostages. The proposal aims to kickstart negotiations for a larger deal after previous attempts faced challenges.
However, it remains unclear if Hamas would be willing to engage in a smaller agreement. With the recent killing of their hardline leader, the U.S. is hopeful for an opportunity for negotiations but acknowledges uncertainty about who is currently in charge of Hamas.
This is a developing story, with updates to follow. Raf Sanchez in Tel Aviv and Chantal Da Silva in London reported on the details. For more information, readers can visit NBCNews.com for additional coverage.
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