Egypt Has Pitched A New Proposal For A Gaza Ceasefire
Egypt has pitched a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. The proposal suggests that some Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a three-week cease-fire. This proposal is a bid to stave off an Israeli military offensive in the city of Rafah.
Israel helped create the proposal according to Egyptian officials. Israel would commit to entering longer-term discussions once Hamas releases a first group of 20 hostages. Israel is in a tricky situation. On one had, they want to get as many of their hostages back. On the other, Hamas is close to collapse, and a peace deal might allow Hamas to stay alive.
Obviously, the Israelis have a better understanding of what is happening on the ground. And of course, they are the ones who will be weighing their options. The Egyptian proposal is being taken seriously. A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo for talks on Monday.
A Hamas official, who asked not to be named, said the delegation would discuss a ceasefire proposal handed by Hamas to mediators from Qatar and Egypt, as well as Israel’s response. Hamas is expected to respond to Israel’s latest Gaza phased truce proposal delivered on Saturday.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House said they reviewed talks designed to secure the release of hostages held since the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel coupled with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Egypt has pitched a new proposal for a Gaza ceasefire. Hamas seems like it is taking it seriously. But many proposed peace deals have amounted to nothing, so we will have to wait and see if this one amounts to anything.
