Egypt’s intelligence chief General Hassan Rashad travelled to Israel on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on efforts to stabilise the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and advance US-backed proposals to end the conflict, amid ongoing humanitarian challenges and renewed diplomatic momentum.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the discussions focused on ways to strengthen Israeli–Egyptian coordination and ensure progress in the ceasefire’s implementation, as international actors seek to turn the truce into a sustainable arrangement.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that hospitals in the Strip had received 13 bodies over the past 24 hours — seven killed in direct Israeli strikes and six retrieved from under the rubble — along with eight injured. The ministry said that since October 7, 2023, a total of 68,229 Palestinians have been killed and 170,369 wounded. Since the ceasefire began on October 11, casualties have included 87 killed and 311 wounded, with 15 additional bodies returned by Israel, bringing the total number of recovered corpses to 165.
In Washington, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel to press for consolidation of the first phase of the ceasefire and lay the groundwork for a second phase requiring deeper concessions from both parties, an Israeli official said.
On the ground, Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced plans to hand over the bodies of two Israeli captives recovered in the enclave. Senior Hamas negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya affirmed the movement’s commitment to the truce, expressing hope that humanitarian aid flows would increase to meet the population’s urgent needs.
Humanitarian agencies warn that sustaining the ceasefire is crucial for saving lives. The World Food Programme (WFP) said that although aid deliveries have improved, they remain far below Gaza’s needs, urging the reopening of all crossings to allow food, fuel, and medical supplies to enter.
According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, only 986 aid trucks have entered the Strip since the ceasefire took effect — out of 6,600 promised — including 14 trucks of cooking gas and 28 of diesel fuel, quantities officials describe as insufficient for basic requirements.
Diplomatic tensions also escalated after Israel urged Canada to reverse its pledge to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian denounced Canada’s recognition of a Palestinian state as “a reward for terrorism,” accusing Ottawa of fueling antisemitism.
