Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Hamas to Exchange Hostages With Israel Only in Case of Ceasefire, Official States

CAIRO (Sputnik) - Palestinian movement Hamas earlier expressed its preparedness to compromise on the number of Palestinian detainees to be released in exchange for an agreement with Israel permitting more Palestinian civilians into the northern Gaza Strip, the US media reported, citing an Israeli official and a source.
Sputnik
Palestinian movement Hamas will only agree to exchange hostages and detainees with Israel if a ceasefire is reached, Hamas political bureau member Osama Hamdan said on Tuesday.
"Any hostage exchange is only possible after a ceasefire and all our conditions are met," Hamdan told a briefing.
Hamas has presented its position regarding the Egyptian and Qatari mediators' proposal, with the movement demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, he added.
Al Qahera News broadcaster reported on Sunday that delegations from Qatar, the United States and Hamas had arrived in Egypt for a new round of de-escalation talks in the Gaza Strip. Israel reportedly decided not to send its delegation to the Cairo talks.
Israel-Palestine Escalation
Hamas Not Expecting Positive Outcome of Negotiations With Israel, Source Says
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,600 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.