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.
