New Egyptian Proposal Revives Hopes of Ending War in Gaza, Met with Israeli Opposition
A new Egyptian proposal revives hopes for ending the Gaza war with a long-term ceasefire, prisoner exchange, and Israeli withdrawal—but faces opposition from Israel. Hamas shows flexibility amid renewed Cairo talks.
Mohamed Aboelsoud 
A well-informed Palestinian source has confirmed that ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel have resumed in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The renewed talks are based on a new proposal by Egyptian authorities that calls for a long-term ceasefire—potentially lasting up to seven years—in exchange for the simultaneous release of all Israeli hostages and Hamas relinquishing its control over the Gaza Strip.
Key Terms of the Proposal: Prisoner Exchange and Israeli Withdrawal
According to the proposed terms, Israel would commit to releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners, halting all military operations, and fully withdrawing its forces from the Gaza Strip. The initiative is seen as one of the most comprehensive since the outbreak of the war, and it reflects a serious effort to find a political solution to the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Hamas Delegation in Cairo for Consultations
A high-level Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo earlier today to consult on the details of the proposal. The delegation is led by the head of the political bureau, Mohammad Darwish, along with senior negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya. Sources speaking to the BBC revealed that Hamas has shown willingness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a Palestinian entity agreed upon at both national and regional levels. This entity could be the Palestinian Authority currently based in the West Bank or a newly established administrative body formed through national consensus.
Netanyahu Rejects Role for Palestinian Authority
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has rejected any future role for the Palestinian Authority in governing Gaza. In statements made last Saturday, he reiterated that the war would not end until "Hamas is completely eliminated" and "all Israeli hostages return home."
Hamas Previously Rejected Israeli Disarmament Proposal
Hamas had recently rejected an Israeli proposal offering a six-week truce in exchange for the group’s disarmament, viewing the condition as a violation of its right to resist and lacking credible future guarantees. Palestinian Embassy Staff Relocated to Al-Arish In a notable development, the Palestinian embassy in Cairo has instructed its staff—who have been coordinating medical evacuations from Gaza to Egyptian hospitals and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid—to relocate with their families to the Egyptian city of Al-Arish near the Gaza border. This move suggests preparations for a new phase in managing the ongoing crisis. While it remains too early to predict the outcome of the Egyptian initiative,
the Palestinian source emphasized the seriousness of current mediation efforts, describing them as “unprecedented.” The source also noted that Hamas has demonstrated “significant flexibility,” offering a glimmer of hope for ending the conflict that has raged since October, resulting in heavy human and infrastructural losses.
