Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday discussed the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call with officials from Palestinian militant group Hamas' political bureau, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

The United States has proposed a new deal between Israel and Hamas that includes the release of hostages and a 60-day ceasefire. Israeli officials have confirmed the proposal, which is now under review by both sides.

Pope Leo called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages in a May 28 general audience, following in the steps of his predecessor Pope Francis, who was both praised and criticized for using his position to advocate for ending the war in Gaza.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has told CNN that a ceasefire-hostage deal for Gaza is currently on the table with a pathway to end the war, and urged Hamas to accept it.

One person was killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking a new violation of a ceasefire agreement between the two sides, the Health Ministry said. The ministry’s Emergency Operations Center said a man was killed in the strike that targeted the Ali al-Taher forest in Nabatieh al-Fawqa area.

More than 300 writers from the UK and Ireland have signed a letter calling for immediate aid and a ceasefire in Gaza.

India has earlier issued several statement rejecting US claims of brokering the ceasefire or mediating on Kashmir, reiterating the same, Jaiswal on Thursday said that: “External Affairs Minister has also made clear that the cessation of firing was decided upon through direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan.