Egypt Proposes Short Ceasefire In Gaza With Small Exchange Of Hostages

JAKARTA - Egypt has proposed an initial two-day ceasefire in Gaza to exchange four Israeli hostages from Hamas for a number of Palestinian prisoners, Egyptian president said on Sunday, as Israeli military attacks killed 45 Palestinians throughout the enclave.

Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made the announcement during efforts to defuse the more than a year-long war to continue in Qatar, involving the CIA Director and Israel's intelligence agency Mossad.

Speaking with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during a press conference in Cairo, President Sisi also said talks should resume within 10 days of the implementation of a temporary ceasefire in a bid to reach a permanent ceasefire.

Meanwhile, an official briefed on the talks told Reuters negotiations in Doha would seek a short-term ceasefire and the release of several hostages detained by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The goal, which is still difficult to achieve after several mediation attempts, is to get Israel and Hamas to agree to stop fighting for less than a month in the hope that this will lead to a more permanent ceasefire.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or Hamas. However, a Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters: "I hope Hamas will listen to the new offer, but remain determined that any deal should end the war and remove Israeli troops from Gaza."

Israel itself is known to say the war will not end until Hamas is eradicated as a military force and a government entity in Gaza.

Together with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has spearheaded negotiations to end the war that erupted after Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing 1,200 people and holding more than 250 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.

Meanwhile, Gaza authorities said the death toll from Palestine as of Sunday had reached 42,847 people, while about 100,544 others were injured.