Israel-Gaza updates: Kerem Shalom crossing closed to aid after rockets fired from Rafah, IDF says
The IDF said several people were injured Sunday.
As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.
Latest headlines:
Hamas delegation returning to Cairo in 'spirit to reach an agreement'
A Hamas delegation is returning to Egypt on Saturday to continue negotiations for a cease-fire with Israel.
The group released a statement stating leadership had a "positive spirit" in response to the cease-fire proposal that was offered.
"We are going to Cairo in the same spirit to reach an agreement," the group said in a statement.
"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."
-ABC News' Dia Ostaz
USAID announces $200 million aid to Gaza, other conflict zones
The U.S. will put $200 million toward addressing acute hunger in conflict zones around the world, including Gaza, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced Friday.
The money will go toward maximizing the procurement, production and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a nutrient-filled, peanut-based paste that is particularly useful for addressing malnutrition in children under 5 years old, in places like Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, a USAID official told ABC News.
In Gaza, USAID partners are already distributing RUTF, and the agency plans to ship additional RUTF supplies into the enclave from Kenya via the maritime corridor soon, the official added.
Humanitarian groups and the United Nations have warned for weeks about the threat of a full-fledged famine in Gaza as the conflict continues.
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
CIA director arrives in Cairo for cease-fire negotiations: Officials
CIA Director Bill Burns landed in Cairo to continue negotiations on the current proposal for a cease-fire and hostage deal, one Egyptian official and one U.S. official told ABC News.
A Hamas delegation will go back to Cairo on Saturday to resume negotiations, a senior Egyptian official told state-owned Al-Qahera News TV on Friday.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy in Cairo and Cindy Smith
US briefed on initial plan for evacuations before Rafah invasion: Official
The U.S. has been briefed on some of the Israeli plans for humanitarian evacuations from Gaza ahead of a Rafah operation, an official with knowledge told ABC News.
The official stressed this is not a final plan.
-ABC News' Selina Wang
Israeli defense minister signals 'action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the near future'
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant toured part of the Gaza Strip on Sunday before speaking with reserve fighters in the division's brigades, Israel's Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
"We recognize alarming signs that Hamas actually does not intend to go to any outline agreement with us, the meaning of this -- action in Rafah and the entire Gaza Strip in the near future," Gallant said, in part.