Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi announced on Sunday that Egypt has proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza, aimed at exchanging some Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of four Israeli hostages. this information Israel Times It has come to light in a report. The proposal, which includes 10 days of talks followed by the release of the hostages, was presented to Israel’s national security cabinet last week by Ronen Bar, head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu opted not to put the proposal to a vote, citing concerns about an initial ceasefire, and sent the proposal back to Egypt to negotiate better terms. According to the Times of Israel report, Hamas has now expressed its willingness to accept Egypt’s proposal if it is in line with its previous July 2 demands for a hostage deal.
Hamas also sought assurances that Israel would honor Egypt’s proposal as part of a broader deal.
What does Hamas want?
Israel Times saudi channel Asharq News Hamas, citing Israel, wants to present negotiators with a comprehensive proposal that includes an immediate end to the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of a certain number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for all Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, Mossad chief David Barnia flew to Doha on Sunday to discuss possible measures for the hostages’ release with CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Israel Times by The Wall Street Journal Citing that at a recent meeting in Egypt, Barnia had offered Hamas leaders a safe exit from Gaza in exchange for the release and disarmament of 101 hostages. According to the report, Hamas “immediately” rejected the idea. Khalil al-Hayya, deputy head of Hamas in Gaza, said the proposal reflected Israel’s misunderstanding of Hamas and risked prolonging the conflict for months or years.
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Although Egypt will not send any delegation to the talks, it has actively participated in restarting talks, including hosting a Hamas delegation to discuss its expectations for the deal.
According to the report, of the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, some 97 remain held captive by Hamas in Gaza, including the bodies of some 34 hostages, whose deaths have been confirmed. Hamas has also taken hostage two Israeli citizens who entered the Gaza Strip in 2014 and 2015.
