Gaza ceasefire talks have continued in recent days, despite ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the U.S. said this week.
On Monday, the Associated Press (AP) reported that recent fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has yet to impact ceasefire negotiations in Cairo, Egypt, amid the war between Israel and Hamas militants.
"There was not an impact on the talks in Cairo," White House national security John Kirby told reporters on Monday. "We're certainly glad to see that."
According to Kirby, recent ceasefire negotiation progress was made during four different conversations on Sunday in Cairo. Kirby also noted that the negotiators are working to "flesh out" a plan that will release the hostages held in Gaza, as well as the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
A ceasefire is widely viewed as the best chance to prevent a broader regional conflict, with Hezbollah threatening retaliation against Israel for last month's killing of senior commander Fuad Shukr. Meanwhile, Iran has vowed revenge for the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
However, the two sides have expressed issues with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hopes of keeping Israeli military forces in Gaza.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched an attack against Israel last October, killing 1,250 people. Earlier this month, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that the Palestinian death toll had surpassed 40,000 since the start of the war.
Amid the ongoing war, there have been repeated calls for peace in Gaza and across the Middle East. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Israel had accepted a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza.
"In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel supports the bridging proposal," Blinken said to the press, according to the AP. "The next important step is for Hamas to say 'yes.'"
However, Egypt, which has served as a mediator in the ongoing ceasefire discussions, told the AP that Hamas was skeptical of the ceasefire, mainly expressing concerns over whether the ceasefire will actually result in Israel removing their troops from Gaza.
"The Americans are offering promises, not guarantees...Hamas won't accept this, because it virtually means Hamas will release the civilian hostages in return for a six-week pause of fighting with no guarantees for a negotiated permanent cease-fire," the Egyptian official, told the AP, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
On Monday, Kirby said that Brett McGurk, a Middle East adviser for the White House, was leading discussions in Cairo, but he is expected to leave the country soon.
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