Israel’s Channel 12 broadcaster is reporting that Israeli authorities are set to increase the amount of aid that enters the Gaza Strip, potentially paving the way for Hamas to release captives as planned on Saturday, Al Jazeera reports.

The broadcaster said in a post on X: “Several international organisations are expected to bring in urgently needed fuel and medical equipment into the Gaza Strip [today], and it is possible that caravans will be allowed to enter by [Friday], which would allow the prisoner exchange to be completed.”

The al-Araby al-Jadeed news website, quoting Egyptian officials familiar with the ongoing talks in Cairo, also said things are heading towards a “breakthrough” that could see the captives-prisoner exchanges between the two sides resume.

The sources said international organisations have received approval to bring in fuel and medical equipment into Gaza, but that efforts are ongoing to obtain approval to bring in tents and prefabricated homes for displaced Palestinians.