A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress” in cease–fire talks for Gaza.

However according to The Associated Press, Israel hasn’t sent a delegation and a senior Israeli official has downplayed prospects for a full end to the war while emphasizing the commitment to invading Rafah.

Pressure has mounted to reach a deal halting the nearly 7–month–long conflict.

A top U.N. official says there is now a “ full–blown famine” in northern Gaza, while the United States has repeatedly warned close ally Israel about its planned offensive into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering.

AP says “Egyptian and U.S. mediators have reported signs of compromise in recent days, but chances for a cease–fire deal remain entangled with the key question of whether Israel will accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying the militant group Hamas.”

More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health officials.

Israel launched its operations after October 7th when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 250 people and killing around 1,200.