Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced today a proposal for a two-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The plan includes a potential release of hostages as part of a broader effort to pave the way for a “complete cessation of hostilities.”
During a joint press conference in Cairo with visiting Algerian President, Sisi highlighted the Egyptian government’s long-standing involvement in mediation efforts to end the war in Gaza. He proposed a “two-day ceasefire” that would entail the exchange of four hostages for some prisoners currently held in Israeli jails, with further negotiations aimed at ensuring “complete cessation of hostilities and the entry of humanitarian aid” into the Gaza Strip within ten days.
The conflicts escalated significantly after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 of last year, triggering the war in Gaza. International mediators successfully brokered a week-long ceasefire in November, but subsequent diplomatic efforts have failed to achieve a lasting truce.
Among the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 7 attacks, 97 remain held in Gaza, with Israeli military sources reporting that 34 of these hostages have since died.
Earlier this month, Israeli forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, commonly seen by Israeli, American officials, and some analysts as an obstacle to reaching a ceasefire agreement.
Sisi emphasized that “our brothers in the Gaza Strip are facing a dire situation under siege,” putting them “on the brink of famine.” He stressed the urgency of allowing humanitarian supplies into the region to alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis.
According to AFP statistics based on Israeli official data, Hamas’s attacks on Israel have resulted in 1,206 fatalities, most of whom were civilians. The Health Ministry in Gaza, governed by Hamas, reported that Israeli military actions have led to at least 42,924 deaths, primarily among civilians, a figure deemed credible by the United Nations.
