Egypt has warned that it will expel recently released Hamas prisoners if the group does not demonstrate flexibility and agree to a revised hostage agreement that could extend the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, according to a senior Israeli official.
These prisoners were released as part of the most recent hostage swap and are currently staying in Egypt, as no other country has accepted them.
This warning is part of increasing pressure from senior Egyptian intelligence officials on Hamas to accept a new deal, which would facilitate the release of additional hostages and extend the temporary truce.
As per the Israeli official, this Egyptian pressure follows strong messages delivered by U.S. White House envoy Steve Witkoff to General Hassan Rasahd, head of Egyptian intelligence. Witkoff reportedly expressed the U.S. government’s disappointment, noting that Egypt had not yet succeeded in persuading Hamas to free more hostages, including Israeli-American dual citizen Idan Alexander.
The official further stated that Egypt has yet to formally present the updated proposal to Israel, as talks between Egyptian mediators and Hamas are still ongoing.
The new proposal reportedly mirrors the one presented by Witkoff in Doha two weeks ago. It calls for the release of five hostages, including Alexander, in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire and the release of Palestinian security prisoners.
Similar to the previous U.S. proposal, the Egyptian plan also includes the continuation of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the reopening of the Netzarim corridor to allow movement for Palestinians, and the withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ground troops that had been operating in the Gaza Strip since the fighting resumed.
An additional feature of the Egyptian plan includes initial talks about a long-term ceasefire and the structure for a second phase of the agreement. However, a final, detailed plan for this part has not yet been developed.
“The Egyptians took all the pressure they received from the US and passed it on to Hamas – and it may have made an impact,” the senior Israeli official said.
A source familiar with the talks stated that Hamas’s senior leadership is expected to meet in the coming days to discuss the updated proposal and decide how to respond.
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