(MENAFN) White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby informed reporters that two senior U.S. officials are currently in Cairo to engage in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Kirby acknowledged that despite the ongoing efforts, there are still significant gaps between the two sides.

Kirby specified that CIA Director William Burns and U.S. Middle East Envoy Brett McGurk are in Egypt to meet with officials from various countries. He added that further discussions are planned for the coming days.

"There are still some gaps left between the positions of the two sides," Kirby stated. "But we would not have sent a team there if we didn't believe there was a chance to make progress. We're trying to bridge these gaps as much as possible."

This diplomatic initiative has led the Israeli negotiating team to express optimism about the potential for reaching an agreement.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has emphasized that any deal should not restrict Israel's ability to resume its military operations until its objectives in the conflict are met. Since the beginning of the war, Netanyahu has committed to dismantling Hamas.

Kirby reiterated the long-standing position of the U.S. administration, stressing that Israel must make greater efforts to protect civilians during the ongoing hostilities.

These developments underscore the complex and delicate nature of the ceasefire negotiations, as well as the significant international efforts being made to resolve the conflict in Gaza.

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