Egypt delivers Israeli proposal to Hamas for temporary ceasefire in Gaza

CAIRO

Egypt sent an Israeli proposal to Hamas on Monday for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the start of talks to secure a permanent truce, according to the Cairo News channel, which did not reveal its sources.

The channel reported that Egypt received the Israeli plan and forwarded it to Hamas, which is now awaiting a response from the Palestinian resistance group.

Hamas announced it is reviewing the proposal on a ceasefire and prisoner swap, stating that its leadership is studying it “with high national responsibility” and will respond promptly after consultations.

The development follows Hamas’ announcement Saturday that a delegation, led by senior official Khalil Al-Hayya, traveled to Cairo to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators to advance efforts for an agreement to halt Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that “intense negotiations” are underway to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, as public pressure mounts following his decision to abandon a ceasefire agreement and resume the war in Gaza, according to a statement from his office, reported by the Maariv newspaper.

Hamas expressed an openness to proposals ensuring a permanent ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, an end to Palestinian suffering, and a serious prisoner exchange deal.

Israel estimates 59 hostages remain in Gaza, 24 of whom are alive, while more than 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, facing torture, starvation, and medical neglect that have led to numerous deaths, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights and media reports.

Israeli media reported progress Monday toward a potential deal with Hamas backed by US guarantees, but previous prisoner swap talks have frequently stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to end the Gaza genocide.

Egypt, alongside Qatar and the US, brokered a phased ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in January, which Israel later violated by unilaterally resuming the war on March 18.

Netanyahu abandoned the second phase of the deal under pressure from his government’s far-right faction, according to Israeli media reports.

Nearly 51,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.