Israeli officials are hopeful about a plan that might bring a new temporary cease-fire to Gaza and potentially lead to the release of more hostages. Following talks in Paris with American, Egyptian, and Qatari representatives, delegates returned to Jerusalem with an "outline of an agreement" that outlines a potential path towards peace. A foreign official noted that continuing progress now depends on Hamas. The proposed plan includes a short-term cease-fire framework, another prisoner-hostage exchange, and details on where IDF would operate in Gaza during the truce.

Hamas has reportedly reduced the number of Palestinian prisoners demanded for release and signaled acceptance of a six-week cease-fire instead of a permanent truce. Meanwhile, the Biden Administration has asked Israel to halt targeting Gaza's civilian police force, managed by Hamas to escort aid trucks, to prevent exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The civilian police have been operating in areas slated for Israeli attacks. Israeli forces recently raided the home of a senior Hamas intelligence officer, discovering a tunnel and weapons, including mortars and bags bearing the UN Relief and Works Agency logo, where some workers were linked to past attacks.

In related news, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni linked Russia's invasion of Ukraine to Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7, suggesting that the former event had catalytic consequences globally. Meloni emphasized the importance of re-establishing international legality in Ukraine to prevent further conflicts. She also expressed support for a two-state solution, contrasting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance on the matter.