Egypt has presented a new proposal for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, according to reports. The proposal follows a series of successful operations against Hamas and Hezbollah, marking a shift toward renewed negotiations.
The proposal, drafted by Egypt, calls for the release of hostages categorized as “humanitarian” including the elderly, children, women, and the seriously ill or wounded in exchange for a prolonged ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. This proposal, however, does not call for an end to the conflict itself. Hamas has yet to publicly respond to the offer, and it remains unclear whether the group would agree to any terms that do not involve a permanent cessation of hostilities.
While Israel did not initiate the proposal, an Israeli official stated that the country is open to discussing it. If Hamas shows willingness to engage, Israel plans to send a delegation to Cairo for negotiations. Qatar, which had previously withdrawn from mediation efforts due to a lack of progress, may also rejoin the talks if developments advance.
In parallel, US President-elect Donald Trump’s Middle East adviser, Massad Boulos, confirmed that both Israel and Hamas have agreed on the broad outlines of an agreement. According to Boulos, the remaining issues involve the details of the prisoner exchange, including the number of Palestinian prisoners and the timeline for the exchange process.
Despite limited military activity in recent months, the ongoing discussions over hostages are seen as the key obstacle to resolving the conflict, with progress being made on the terms of a potential agreement.
