The stakes are high to find a halt to the nearly seven-months-long war. More than 1 million Palestinians are sheltering in the city of Rafah, along the border with Egypt, many having fled northern Gaza where a top U.N. official says there is now a full-blown famine.

Egyptian and American mediators have reported signs of compromise in recent days but chances for a cease-fire deal remain entangled with the key question of whether Israel will accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying Hamas.

Egyptian state Al-Qahera news said Saturday that a consensus has been reached over many of the disputed points but did not elaborate. Hamas has called for a complete end to the war and withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza.

The war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's local health officials, caused widespread destruction and plunged the territory into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The conflict erupted on Oct. 7, when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 250 people and killing around 1,200, mostly civilians. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, played down the prospects for a full end to the war. The official said Israel was committed to the Rafah invasion and told The Associated Press that it will not agree in any circumstance to end the war as part of a deal to release hostages.

Israeli strikes early Saturday on Gaza killed at least six people. Three bodies were recovered from the rubble of a building in Rafah and taken to Yousef Al Najjar hospital. A strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza also killed three people, according to hospital officials.

In the last 24 hours, the bodies of 32 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to local hospitals, Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday. The ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its tallies, but says that women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.

The Israeli military says it has killed 13,000 militants, without providing evidence to back up the claim. It has also conducted mass arrests during its raids inside Gaza.

Gaza's Health Ministry also on Saturday urged the International Criminal Court to investigate the death in Israeli custody of a Gaza surgeon. Adnan al-Borsh, 50, was working at al-Awda Hospital when Israeli troops stormed it, detaining him and others inside in December, according to the Palestinian Prisoner's Club.

In related developments this week, Israel briefed Biden administration officials on plans to evacuate civilians ahead of the Rafah operation, according to U.S. officials familiar with the talks.

The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands would be "at imminent risk of death" if Israel moves forward into the densely packed city, which is also a critical entry point for humanitarian aid.

The U.S. director of the U.N. World Food Program, Cindy McCain, said Friday that trapped civilians in the north, the most cut-off part of Gaza, have plunged into famine. McCain said a cease-fire and a greatly increased flow of aid through land and sea routes was essential.

Israel recently opened new crossings for aid into northern Gaza, but on Wednesday, Israeli settlers blocked the first convoy before it crossed into the besieged enclave. Once inside Gaza, the convoy was commandeered by Hamas militants, before U.N. officials reclaimed it.

The proposal that Egyptian mediators had put to Hamas sets out a three-stage process that would bring an immediate, six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israeli hostages, and would include some sort of Israeli pullout. The initial stage would last for 40 days.

Hamas would start by releasing female civilian hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Gershon Baskin, director for the Middle East at the International Communities Organization, said it appears that Hamas has agreed to the framework that Egypt proposed and Israel has already accepted.

He said the negotiators are now hammering out the details -- and if Israel sends its top negotiators to Cairo after the Sabbath ends on Saturday evening, that would signify it's very serious.

The complexity of the peace negotiations reflects the depths of animosity and distrust that have characterized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. The severity of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza has international observers and human rights organizations clamoring for an urgent resolution, but there appears to be no easy path to peace. Add to this the political considerations in Israel where public opinion is deeply divided on the issue of the war and its objectives.

Peripheral to the cease-fire talks, regional players are positioning themselves as potential peacemakers. Jordan and Turkey have offered to provide mediatory support, looking to leverage their relationships with both sides, and to extend their influence in regional geopolitics. The Arab League, too, has called an emergency meeting to discuss ways to de-escalate the situation and offer relief to the people of Gaza.

On the international stage, the European Union has expressed its concern over the spiraling civilian death toll, calling for an immediate cease-fire and the provision of humanitarian aid. The United Nations Security Council has convened multiple emergency sessions to discuss the situation, demonstrating the global concern over the conflict's escalation and the consequences that are resonating beyond Gaza's borders.

Within Israel, the political dynamics are as fraught as the battlefield tactics. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from both hawks and doves within his coalition government. Some within his camp argue that anything short of a complete military victory would be seen as capitulation, while others warn that a protracted conflict without a clear endgame could erode domestic and international support for Israel.

Humanitarian agencies have underscored the desperate need for medical supplies, clean water, and food in Gaza. The war has not only caused a catastrophic loss of life but also crippled infrastructure. Water purification systems, hospitals, and schools have been hit, exacerbating the already dire conditions caused by the longstanding blockade on the enclave. The international community has pledged millions of dollars in aid, but access remains hindered by both conflict and policy.

Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have voiced concerns over potential war crimes committed by both sides. These groups stress the importance of holding accountable those responsible for targeting civilian populations and infrastructure, or for using civilians as human shields, as outlined by international humanitarian law.

The human toll of the conflict can be seen in the faces of the children of Gaza who have been disproportionately affected by the violence. The psychological impact of the war on young minds is another unseen scar on the population, raising concerns about a generation growing up amidst constant death and destruction, with little hope for a peaceful and stable future.

Amidst the chaotic backdrop, stories of individual heroism and solidarity have emerged. Palestinian and Israeli civilians have been documented aiding one another, offering a glimpse of the shared humanity that often gets overshadowed by the broader conflict. Such narratives provide a counterpoint to the pervasive images of war and highlight the potential for reconciliation and coexistence.

At this critical juncture, the world watches with bated breath as diplomatic efforts intensify to bring an end to the violence. The road to peace is fraught with obstacles and uncertainties, but it is the only path capable of leading to a sustainable resolution that secures a future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. As cease-fire negotiations continue to unfold against the backdrop of intense suffering and loss of life, the hope for a breakthrough remains high, predicated on the belief that peace is not only necessary but possible.