Israel Signals Openness to Egyptian Ceasefire Proposal
Egypt has received positive signals from Israel regarding a new proposal aimed at securing a phased ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, international media reported Thursday. Egyptian delegations have reportedly traveled to Qatar and Israel to coordinate with mediators on how to implement the proposal.
The plan, which sources say Hamas has accepted, calls for the release of five hostages per week in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire. Once the first group of hostages is released, Israel would open the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and to facilitate medical evacuations.
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Egypt first introduced the proposal earlier this week, seeking to revive negotiations that stalled after Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that no ceasefire will be agreed upon without the release of hostages.
Of the 250 or so hostages who were abducted, 59 are thought to remain in Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive. Between January and early March, 33 hostages were released in the first phase of a ceasefire deal. The second phase of that agreement, which was meant to secure a more lasting ceasefire, never materialized.
Freed hostages and family members of those still held in Gaza have rallied for Israel to strike a deal, warning that the remaining hostages’ lives are endangered by Israeli military pressure.
A final decision on Egypt’s latest proposal could come within days, with sources suggesting a ceasefire announcement might happen as soon as Sunday.
