CAIRO: Israeli security delegation has arrived in Cairo with the aim of “resuming negotiations aimed at releasing Israeli prisoners held by resistance factions in Gaza”, Al Jazeera reports.

Citing sources in Egypt, the London-based outlet said that Cairo had suspended its mediation efforts after the assassination of Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has joined the Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem in condemning Israel’s “declared policy” of starvation in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

“It is unconscionable that the Biden administration continues to support the far-right Israeli government’s declared policy of starvation of the entire population of Gaza, a gruesome tactic that is a clear violation of international law”, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said.

Israel’s army said it had killed a “central figure” in Syria responsible for Hamas rocket attacks against Israel.

The military said Hassan Akasha had been “eliminated” in Beit Jinn, an area under Syrian government control close to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.

“He was a central figure responsible for rockets fired by Hamas from Syrian territory toward Israel in recent weeks,” the army said in a statement.

“Since the beginning of the war, Akasha directed Hamas terrorist cells which fired rockets from Syria toward Israeli territory,” it said.

“We will not allow terrorism from Syrian territory and hold Syria responsible for all activity emanating from its territory,” the Israeli army statement said. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.