Egypt Confirms Israel’s 2-Month Ceasefire Proposal

According to a senior Egyptian official, Israel has offered a two-month ceasefire as part of a deal for the exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. This proposal includes allowing Yehya Sinwar and other top Hamas leaders in Gaza to move to different countries.

However, the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the media, mentioned that Hamas has turned down this proposal. The group is insisting on a lasting ceasefire as a precondition for any further exchange of hostages, a stance that Israeli leaders have not agreed to.

Moreover, the Hamas leaders have rejected the idea of leaving Gaza and are demanding a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory and the return of Palestinians to their homes.

In efforts to find a middle ground, Egypt and Qatar, known for their roles in mediating past agreements between Israel and Hamas, are working on a phased proposal. This plan aims to end the war, secure the release of hostages, and establish a framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Reports of these diplomatic endeavors have also been covered by Israeli media, outlining a similar structure for the potential agreement.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented on these reports, citing the sensitive nature of the hostage situation. Qatari officials have also not provided any immediate response to inquiries about this proposal.

White House senior advisor Brett McGurk is currently in the region to discuss these hostage negotiations with Egyptian and Qatari officials. The White House has refrained from commenting on these discussions.

John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council in Washington, emphasized the importance of a temporary halt in hostilities to facilitate the safe release of more hostages. He stated, “You can’t enact safe passage for hostages out of a danger zone if people are shooting at each other.” Kirby also clarified that a general ceasefire is typically considered with the expectation of concluding a conflict, which is not the current stance of the U.S.