CAIRO - A Hamas delegation has arrived here for talks with representatives of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah), a well-informed Egyptian source told Xinhua Tuesday.

The Hamas delegation is headed by senior official Khalil al-Hayya. The talks, which will take place "under Egyptian sponsorship," aim to foster reconciliation between the two largest Palestinian factions.

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Key topics will include the situation in the Gaza Strip and the future of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. Israel is now controlling the Palestinian side of the crucial crossing.

The conflict in Gaza, sparked by a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, has now entered its second year, claiming the lives of 1,200 people in Israel.

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In response, Israel's military operations in Gaza have led to a reported 41,965 Palestinian deaths and 97,590 injuries, according to the latest figures released by health authorities in Gaza on Tuesday.