Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza to allow for the exchange of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for a number of Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement on Sunday came as Israeli airstrikes killed 45 Palestinians across the region. The initiative coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts in Qatar, where high-level talks are underway, involving CIA and Mossad intelligence chiefs.
During a press conference in Cairo with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President Sisi stated that negotiations should resume within 10 days of implementing a temporary ceasefire to work toward a lasting resolution.
While there has been no official response from Israel or Hamas, a Palestinian official involved in the mediation efforts told Reuters, “I expect Hamas would listen to the new offers, but it remains determined that any agreement must end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza.”
Israel has stated that the war will not conclude until Hamas is eliminated as both a military force and governing authority in Gaza. The US, Qatar, and Egypt have been leading diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which erupted on October 7 last year when Hamas fighters launched an incursion into southern Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
In Gaza, health officials report the death toll from Israel’s retaliatory air and ground strikes is nearing 43,000, with much of the densely populated territory left in ruins.
(With Reuters inputs)