In an urgent effort to stem violence, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, exchanging four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners. Egypt Pushes Ceasefire for Gaza Hostage Swap
This temporary truce could set the stage for ongoing peace negotiations within 10 days, he stated alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Cairo.
The proposal aligns with renewed talks in Qatar involving top U.S., Egyptian, and Qatari officials, alongside the CIA and Israel’s Mossad.
While Israel insists the war will continue until Hamas is dismantled, Hamas reportedly remains open to discussing terms, though they demand an end to Israel’s Gaza operations.
The conflict, reignited after a Hamas incursion into Israel in 2023, has left over 43,000 Palestinians dead as Israeli forces target the densely populated Gaza Strip.
A reported Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school sheltering civilians intensified international outcry, with the UN calling conditions in northern Gaza “unbearable.”
Amid dire humanitarian needs, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for the protection of civilians, while Israel defends its operations as compliant with international law, blaming Hamas for civilian harm.
As talks continue, both sides face mounting pressure for a solution to halt the escalating violence and humanitarian devastation. Egypt Pushes Ceasefire for Gaza Hostage Swap