Cairo: Israeli media said Friday that Egypt submitted a new proposal for a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip, along with a prisoner exchange.
According to Anadolu Agency, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Cairo “has put forward a new proposal regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, aiming to bridge the gaps between Israel and Hamas.” The report highlighted that the proposal was submitted within the past 24 hours in an effort to reach a consensus between the two sides.
Details of the proposal remain undisclosed, but it reportedly attempts to find a middle ground between the original offers by Egypt and Qatar, which included the release of five living prisoners, and Israel’s counteroffer, which called for the release of 11 living prisoners in Gaza. Egypt has yet to provide any official comment on the report.
Israel believes that 59 hostages are still held in Gaza, with at least 22 confirmed alive. The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on March 18, resulting in 1,249 fatalities and 3,022 injuries, despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas that was in effect since January.
The ongoing conflict has claimed the lives of over 50,600 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, predominantly affecting women and children. In related developments, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its military actions in the enclave.