Gaza truce proposal on table, Egypt says

CAIRO

Egypt confirmed Monday that there is a new proposal for a truce in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

"There is a proposal on the table to reach a truce in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said during a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia.

He called on both Hamas and Israel to study the proposal, without providing any further details.

"We are hopeful," Shoukry said. “The proposal has taken into account the positions of both sides and has tried to extract moderation."

"We are waiting to have a final decision. There are factors that will have an impact on both sides' decisions, but I hope that all will rise to the occasion."

"We must put an end to the ongoing crisis in Gaza in order to resolve the Palestinian issue," Shoukry said.

There was no comment from Israel or Hamas on the Egyptian minister’s statements.

The top diplomat renewed Egypt’s rejection of any Israeli military operation in Rafah, home to more than 1.4 million displaced Palestinians.

“We stress the need to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe against civilians,” he added.

An Egyptian intelligence delegation held talks with Israeli officials on Friday to discuss a proposed cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip.

The new proposal includes Israel’s willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of hostages on humanitarian grounds, two Israeli officials told Axios news website.

A Hamas delegation was due to visit Egypt on Monday to deliver its response to the truce proposal.

An Israeli delegation is also expected to visit Egypt on Tuesday to pursue indirect negotiations with Hamas for a Gaza cease-fire, the public broadcaster KAN reported.

Hamas is estimated to be holding more than 130 Israeli hostages, while Tel Aviv is holding more than 9,100 Palestinians in its jails.

Hamas demands an end to Israel’s deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the territory for any hostage-prisoner swap deal with Tel Aviv.

A previous deal in November 2023 saw the release of 81 Israelis and 24 foreigners in exchange for 240 Palestinians, including 71 women and 169 children.

Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Palestinian enclave since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

Nearly 34,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 77,600 others injured amid mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities.

More than six months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio and Ahmed Asmar