Cairo: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has urged US envoy Steve Witkoff to take swift action following Hamas’ acceptance of a ceasefire proposal aimed at ending Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip. In a phone call, the two officials explored the latest developments in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, highlighting the opportunity presented by Hamas’ approval of a proposal previously put forth by Witkoff.
According to Anadolu Agency, Abdelatty emphasized the importance of leveraging Hamas’ approval to progress towards halting the conflict, describing the situation in Gaza as dire. The Egyptian Foreign Minister called on Israel to accept the proposal to address the ongoing crisis, prioritize the lives of Israeli hostages, and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. He also underscored the necessity of ensuring the entry of humanitarian aid into the region.
Hamas announced earlier this week that it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, though it did not disclose the specifics of the plan. Qatar noted that Hamas’ response aligns closely with terms Israel had previously accepted. Reports from Israeli public broadcaster KAN, citing unnamed sources, suggest that the proposal mirrors Witkoff’s original plan, which involves the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and further negotiations to resolve the conflict.
According to Egyptian media, the proposal includes repositioning Israeli forces near the border to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and a temporary cessation of military operations for two months to enable a prisoner-hostage exchange. Israel has yet to officially respond to the proposal, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating on Tuesday that Israel’s policy to conclude the Gaza war remains unchanged, pressing for the release of all Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Israeli estimates indicate that approximately 50 captives remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. In contrast, Israel holds over 10,800 Palestinians in its prisons, with conditions reportedly leading to deaths from torture, hunger, and medical neglect. The ongoing military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 62,100 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, leaving the enclave in a state of famine.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.