Egypt Daily News – The head of Hamas in Gaza has stated that the movement has agreed to an Egyptian proposal, which includes the release of five living Israeli detainees in exchange for an extension of the ceasefire in Gaza until after the Jewish Passover, with negotiations for a long-term truce to begin.
Khalil al-Hayya, the acting head in Gaza, said: “We agreed to the ceasefire proposal that the movement received two days ago.”
The Egyptian offer that Hamas agreed to is very similar to a proposal made by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff during negotiations in Doha weeks ago, which Hamas had rejected at the time before Israel resumed its war on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 900 Palestinians since the collapse of the ceasefire.
The Egyptian proposal may also include the release of dead Israeli detainees, according to Axios.
The site also mentioned that discussions of this offer, along with another proposal mediated by Qatar and the U.S., took place during a meeting in Doha on Thursday, attended by representatives from Hamas, as well as Egyptian and Qatari officials. According to an informed source, the mediators asked Hamas to choose between the two proposed offers.
Expectations regarding the agreement
Israel is expected to present a counteroffer to the position Hamas has agreed to, and the issue will be discussed at a meeting of the security cabinet, according to the site. An Israeli official noted that it is unlikely an agreement will be reached before Eid al-Fitr, but there is a possibility of reaching an agreement before the Jewish Passover.
