Hostage rescue, news and more

An Egyptian official told CNN that Israel’s security operation at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday would have a “negative impact” on talks to end the war in Gaza.

“It will not be easy,” an Egyptian official familiar with the talks told CNN.

Israel heavily bombed central Gaza during the operation to rescue the four hostages, killing more than 200 Palestinians and wounding many others, according to Gaza hospital officials. CNN cannot independently confirm the figures, and there is no clarity on the number of civilian and terrorist casualties.

Egypt, along with Qatar, is helping coordinate talks between Israel and Hamas.

Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a series of calls with key allies in the Middle East to issue concrete threats to Hamas, as part of an urgent drive to pressure the group to accept the latest high-profile Israeli proposal and that the release of the hostages would end the fighting in Gaza.

Blinken is scheduled to travel to the Middle East this week and visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Qatar to “discuss with our allies the need to reach a ceasefire agreement that guarantees the release of all hostages,” the spokesman announced Friday at the State Department, Matthew Miller.