Egypt has allegedly prepared a new proposal for a hostage-ceasefire deal expected to be presented to Israel and Hamas by the end of the week, according to a Thursday report by the Saudi-owned channel Asharq News, citing sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the new proposal will meet both Israel’s and Hamas’s demands in a “balanced” manner and will aim to establish a long-term truce between the sides that could potentially last between five and seven years.
To ensure a truce between the two parties, the agreement would involve guarantees from regional and international parties to “ensure the fulfillment of mutual obligation,” the report added.
The new proposal was prepared by Egypt in consultation and coordination with Qatar and the current US administration, the sources in the report claimed.
According to the sources, “once a framework agreement is reached, the ground situation will be restored and all military operations will be halted.”
“Humanitarian and relief aid will be introduced according to the international protocol,” the sources continued.
Hamas and Israel’s demands
The proposal would involve the release of all Israeli hostages held by the terror group in exchange for a mutually agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, the report said.
The report emphasized that the deal would be “contingent on an immediate and complete ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the initiation of the Gaza reconstruction process, and the lifting of the blockade imposed since 2007.”
Israel, in return, would expect Hamas to declare its commitment to a five-year ceasefire and that the terror group would no longer have ruling control of the Gaza Strip, the source cited in the report said.
Israeli delegation to depart for hostage talks
The report comes as an Israeli delegation is expected to depart in the coming days for talks aimed at advancing a hostage deal, a source familiar with the details told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday.
Sources informed on the matter told the Post that there has been no change in Hamas’s position regarding the deal.
Hamas has made it clear to mediators from Egypt and Qatar that “we will not agree to a deal that includes a temporary ceasefire.”
Israel has said it will only agree to a deal in which 10-11 hostages will be released for 45 days of ceasefire. Prime Minister Netanyahu has said Israel will not agree to cease the war, as Hamas demands.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
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