Egypt has put forward a proposal for a two-day cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, during which four hostages held in Gaza would be released. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi announced this initiative in Cairo on Sunday, marking the first time he has publicly suggested such a plan.
The proposal also includes the release of some Palestinian prisoners and the provision of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, has played a crucial role as a mediator in the ongoing conflict. As of now, there has been no response from Israel or Hamas regarding the proposal.
El-Sissi expressed that the initiative aims to “move the situation forward,” and indicated that negotiations would continue to establish a more permanent cease-fire after the initial two days. The last cease-fire took place 11 months ago, during which 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
On the same day, Israel’s Mossad chief visited Doha for discussions with Qatar’s prime minister and the CIA director. During a government memorial for the anniversary of the October 7 attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked that “not every goal can be achieved through military operations,” suggesting that “painful compromises” would be necessary to secure the return of the hostages.
This proposal from Egypt comes shortly after Israeli airstrikes in Iran, a response to a recent ballistic missile attack attributed to Iran. Iran’s supreme leader stated that the situation “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” while refraining from calling for any direct retaliation. The airstrikes marked Israel’s first overt military action against its long-standing adversary.
The recent escalation has heightened concerns about a potential broader regional conflict involving Israel and the United States against Iran and its allied militant groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. This comes in the context of Israel’s ground invasion in Lebanon earlier this month, following nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict ignited by the ongoing war in Gaza.
