Egypt, Israel exchange proposals for ‘compromise’ on Gaza ceasefire
Hebrew media outlets say the new Egyptian proposal includes talks for phase two of the deal, and that a ‘breakthrough’ could soon be possible
Egypt and Israel have exchanged draft proposals for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with the goal of reaching a compromise, according to Israel’s Broadcasting Corporation (KAN).
The proposals aim to bridge the gap between a new proposal put forward by Egypt and the initiative of US envoy Steve Witkoff.
The Egyptian compromise proposal calls for the release of eight living captives and the bodies of eight deceased captives in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners and a truce lasting 40 to 70 days.
It comes after an Egyptian proposal late last month for the release of five living captives and Israel’s demand that at least 11 be released.
In March, Witkoff had also proposed the release of five living captives and a two-month ceasefire.
“The chances of reaching an agreement are increasing,” an Israeli official told KAN. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Egyptian proposal includes moving forward with discussions on phase two of the initial ceasefire agreement, which Israel had previously refused to discuss.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on 10 April that he briefed the families of the Israeli captives in Gaza during a meeting in occupied Jerusalem and informed them of “ongoing efforts” to secure their release, confirming that “negotiation channels are currently active.”
The families of the captives in Gaza feel “optimistic about the possibility of a breakthrough in the coming days,” according to Channel 12.
Neither Egypt nor Hamas have released official statements.
Israel renewed the war on Gaza on 18 March, relaunching a brutal campaign of airstrikes and reentering the strip on the ground. Over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed in less than one month, and Israel now controls around 50 percent of the strip, while advancing plans to seize even more territory.
Tel Aviv is now demanding a complete disarmament of Hamas in a deviation from the original deal, which saw captives released in stages in exchange for Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.
“As long as the occupation continues, the resistance will retain its weapons. This is a red line we will not cross,” said the deputy chairman of Hamas’s Political Bureau late last month.