Egypt is reportedly preparing to unveil a fresh outline for a potential ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to a report published Thursday by Asharq News, a Saudi-owned outlet. The report, citing sources familiar with the talks, stated the new plan is expected to be formally submitted to both sides before the end of the week.
The sources indicated that this updated framework attempts to accommodate key conditions set forth by both parties. Described as a “balanced” approach, the proposal aims to lay the groundwork for a multi-year cessation of hostilities, possibly extending for a period of five to seven years.
To support the implementation of the deal, regional and international powers would provide oversight and guarantees to ensure that both Israel and Hamas adhere to the agreed terms, according to the report.
The formulation of this proposal is said to have been the result of a collaborative effort involving Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, the report added. These parties have reportedly been working in tandem to develop a package capable of stabilizing the region.
As soon as the main parameters of the agreement are finalized, all active military engagements are expected to stop, sources said. “Once a framework agreement is reached, the ground situation will be restored and all military operations will be halted.”
They further noted that aid deliveries would resume in accordance with international guidelines. “Humanitarian and relief aid will be introduced according to the international protocol,” the sources continued.
As detailed in the report, the arrangement would see the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a negotiated number of Palestinian detainees, with both sides expected to agree on the final figures.
The report further underscored that the deal’s implementation would hinge on several key conditions: “contingent on an immediate and complete ceasefire, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the initiation of the Gaza reconstruction process, and the lifting of the blockade imposed since 2007.”
In return, Israel would demand Hamas commit to a five-year ceasefire and relinquish its administrative control over the Gaza Strip, according to the sources cited.
The report coincides with reports that an Israeli team is slated to travel soon for negotiations aimed at securing a hostage release deal, according to information shared with The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.
Despite this development, insiders told the Post that Hamas has not altered its demands and remains firm in its position.
Mediators from Egypt and Qatar were informed by Hamas that “we will not agree to a deal that includes a temporary ceasefire.”
Israel, on the other hand, remains clear in its stance: it will only consent to a deal involving the release of 10 to 11 hostages in exchange for a 45-day truce. Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that Israel “will not agree to cease the war,” rejecting Hamas’s demand for a permanent halt to military action.
{Matzav.com Israel}