Monday, October 28, 2024 - Egypt has proposed a temporary ceasefire to exchange four Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners even as the Gaza war continues to grind on.
Egypt proposed an initial two-day ceasefire in Gaza aimed at
facilitating the exchange of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for a number
of Palestinian prisoners.
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made this announcement on
Sunday, October 27 as Israeli military strikes resulted in the deaths of 45
Palestinians across the enclave.
During a joint press conference with Algerian President
Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Cairo, Sisi emphasised the importance of resuming
negotiations within ten days of implementing the temporary ceasefire.
While there has been no immediate response from Israel or
Hamas, a Palestinian official involved in the mediation process told Reuters
agency that Hamas is open to the new proposals but has maintained that any
agreement must lead to an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Israeli
forces from Gaza.
Israel has alwyays stated that the war cannot conclude until
Hamas is dismantled as a military force and a governing authority in Gaza.
The war erupted following a Hamas attack on southern Israel
on October 7 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the
abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza, with health
officials reporting that the death toll from Israeli air and ground assaults
has reached nearly 43,000. The densely populated enclave remains largely in
ruins.
An official briefed on the talks mentioned that discussions
in Doha are focused on establishing a short-term ceasefire and facilitating the
release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The goal is to achieve a temporary halt in hostilities that could pave the way
for a more enduring ceasefire.
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