Egypt has put forth a proposal for a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced this initial two-day ceasefire on Sunday, October 27, coinciding with Israeli military strikes that resulted in the deaths of 45 Palestinians in the region.
During a joint press conference with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Cairo, Sisi highlighted the necessity of resuming negotiations within ten days following the ceasefire’s implementation.
While there has been no immediate response from either Israel or Hamas, a Palestinian official involved in the mediation process told Reuters that Hamas is receptive to the new proposals but insists that any agreement must also lead to an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Israel has consistently maintained that the war cannot conclude until Hamas is dismantled as a military entity and governing authority in the region.
The conflict ignited after a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
The ongoing violence has devastated Gaza, with health officials reporting that Israeli air and ground assaults have led to nearly 43,000 deaths, leaving much of the densely populated enclave in ruins.
An official briefed on the negotiations noted that discussions in Doha are centered on establishing a short-term ceasefire and facilitating the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, with the aim of creating a temporary halt in hostilities that could lead to a more lasting ceasefire.
