Egypt, one of the mediators in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, has received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase, security sources told Reuters on Thursday.
Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the truce © Mena Today
Egypt, one of the mediators in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, has received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase, security sources told Reuters on Thursday.
The proposal suggests Hamas release five Israeli hostages each week, sources said.
A security delegation from Egypt has left for Qatar for talks, which will include increasing aid to the enclave and releasing remaining hostages, state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV said on Thursday.
Violence has escalated in Gaza since a January truce broke down on March 18 after two months of relative calm.
Asked about the latest proposal, a Palestinian official close to the mediation efforts said "there are some offers that look better than the previous ones".
When asked if he expects an announcement on a breakthrough on Thursday, he replied: "Maybe not yet".
There was no immediate response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on the proposal, but a spokesperson said there is currently no Israeli delegation in Doha.
Israel and Hamas accused each other of breaching the truce, which had offered respite from war for the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, which has been reduced to rubble.
Hamas, which still holds 59 of more than 250 hostages Israel says the group seized in its October 7, 2023 attack, accuses Israel of jeopardising efforts by mediators to negotiate a permanent deal to end the fighting.
Israel says it would be willing to extend the ceasefire temporarily if Hamas releases more hostages, but without moving yet to a second phase during which it would negotiate a permanent end to the war.
Israel also said it won't accept Hamas' presence in the enclave and added it wanted to extend the ceasefire's temporary first phase, a proposal backed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff
By Nayera Abdallah and Yomna Ehab
The U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will not give out any aid on Wednesday as it presses Israel to boost civilian safety beyond the perimeter of its distribution sites, a day after dozens of Palestinians seeking aid were killed.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call on Tuesday from President of the European Council, António Costa, during which the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Egypt-EU cooperation on multiple fronts.
The British government said on Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" about the health of the mother of jailed Egyptian-British dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah, Laila Soueif, who has been admitted to hospital while continuing a hunger strike.
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