Cairo: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed an initial two-day ceasefire in Gaza on Sunday, suggesting an exchange of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for a number of Palestinian prisoners. The announcement coincided with Israeli military strikes that resulted in 45 Palestinian casualties across Gaza. The proposed ceasefire, Sisi emphasized, aims to allow both sides to consider a potential pathway toward peace.
The Egyptian leader discussed this proposal during a press conference in Cairo, standing alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Sisi urged that formal peace negotiations should commence within 10 days following the temporary ceasefire’s implementation, striving for a more enduring solution to the hostilities.
Talks to defuse the year-long conflict resumed in Qatar, with high-level intelligence officials from the CIA and Israel’s Mossad involved. A Palestinian official closely connected to the mediation informed Reuters, “I expect Hamas would listen to the new offers, but it remains determined that any agreement must end the war and get Israeli forces out of Gaza.”
The Israeli government, however, remains steadfast in its stance that hostilities cannot cease until Hamas is no longer a military and governing power in Gaza. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are at the forefront of diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, following the outbreak of violence in October of last year, which saw Hamas fighters entering southern Israel and taking more than 250 hostages.
Crisis Escalates in Gaza
The humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to mount, with health officials reporting nearly 43,000 fatalities. The enclave, besieged by Israeli air and ground offensives, faces catastrophic destruction and a severe humanitarian crisis. A source briefed on the ongoing discussions in Doha stated that negotiators are attempting to secure a short-term ceasefire to facilitate the release of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The hope is that a temporary truce could serve as a stepping stone toward a permanent ceasefire.
Intensified military action persists in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are reportedly working to dismantle Hamas strongholds. According to local health authorities, at least 43 individuals were killed in the region on Sunday.
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‘Unbearable’ Conditions for Civilians
The United Nations highlighted the dire circumstances for Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza, describing their plight as “unbearable” and noting violations of international humanitarian standards. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his concern over the immense suffering, with U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stating, “The Secretary-General is shocked by the harrowing levels of death, injury and destruction in the north, with civilians trapped under rubble, the sick and wounded going without life-saving health care, and families lacking food and shelter.”
Dujarric added that Israeli actions have hampered efforts to deliver crucial supplies, putting many lives in jeopardy. Israeli authorities have contested these claims, stating their military operations align with international law and blaming Hamas for using civilians as shields and for obstructing humanitarian aid distribution.
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Jabalia and Shati Camps in Focus
Reports on Sunday revealed the death of 20 people following an airstrike on residential areas in Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp. Additionally, an Israeli airstrike struck a school sheltering displaced families in Shati camp, killing nine people and wounding 20 others. Footage circulating in Palestinian media depicted scenes of chaos, with people scrambling to assist the wounded and recover the bodies, including children.
The Israeli military announced it would investigate the reported attack on the Shati school. The incident also claimed the lives of three journalists from Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa television, as reported by Hamas media.
Israel’s military operations in northern Gaza, specifically around Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya, have reportedly resulted in approximately 800 fatalities over the past three weeks, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli authorities assert that their recent actions in Jabalia eliminated over 40 Hamas fighters and dismantled substantial militant infrastructure.
