CAIRO —Hamas has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel that features the discharge of half the hostages held in Gaza and Israel’s launch of some Palestinian prisoners, an Egyptian official supply mentioned on Monday.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed the group’s approval of the proposal, writing on Fb: “The motion has handed over its approval to the brand new proposal introduced by the mediators.”
Israeli media quoted Israeli sources as saying the Hamas response had been acquired.
There was no official response from Israel, however in a video from his workplace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned: “I, such as you, hear the reviews within the media, and from them you will get one impression – Hamas is below immense strain.”
The Egyptian official supply acknowledged that the settlement included a suspension of Israeli army operations for 60 days and outlined a framework for a complete deal to finish the practically two-year battle.
A supply conversant in the negotiations mentioned the proposal intently mirrored an earlier plan put ahead by U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel had accepted.
?The mediators met Hamas representatives in Cairo on Sunday, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister, joined the discussions on Monday and met each Egyptian President el-Sisi and Hamas representatives, mentioned an official briefed on the conferences.
Israel’s plans to grab management of Gaza Metropolis have stirred alarm overseas and at house, the place tens of hundreds of Israelis on Sunday held a few of the biggest protests for the reason that struggle started, urging a deal to finish the preventing and free the remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza for the reason that Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. Israeli officers imagine 20 are alive.
In an obvious present of power late on Monday, Israeli tanks superior into the Sabra neighbourhood within the coronary heart of Gaza Metropolis, based on witnesses who counted the presence of at the very least 9 tanks and bulldozers.
Israel permitted the plan to take management of Gaza Metropolis earlier this month, however officers had mentioned it might take weeks to begin, leaving the door open for a ceasefire, although Netanyahu had mentioned it could get below method “pretty shortly” and finish the struggle with Hamas’ defeat.
Palestinians flee
Hundreds of Palestinians fearing an imminent Israeli floor offensive have left their properties in jap areas of Gaza Metropolis, now below fixed Israeli bombardment, for factors to the west and south within the shattered territory.
Netanyahu has described Gaza Metropolis as Hamas’ final massive city bastion. However, with Israel already holding 75% of Gaza, the army has warned that increasing the offensive might endanger hostages nonetheless alive and draw troops into protracted and lethal guerrilla warfare.
Dani Miran, whose son Omri was taken hostage on October 7, mentioned he feared the implications of an Israeli floor offensive in Gaza Metropolis. “I am scared that my son can be harm,” he advised Reuters in Tel Aviv on Monday.
In Gaza Metropolis, many Palestinians have additionally been calling for protests to demand an finish to a struggle that has demolished a lot of the territory and for Hamas to accentuate talks to avert the Israeli floor offensive.
An Israeli armoured incursion into Gaza Metropolis might displace a whole lot of hundreds of individuals, lots of whom have been uprooted a number of instances through the struggle.
Ahmed Mheisen, Palestinian shelter supervisor in Beit Lahiya, a war-devastated suburb abutting jap Gaza Metropolis, mentioned 995 households had departed the realm in latest days for the south.
“I’m heading south as a result of I must ease my psychological state,” Mousa Obaid, a Gaza Metropolis resident, advised Reuters. “I don’t wish to maintain transferring left and proper endlessly. There is no such thing as a life left, and as you possibly can see, dwelling situations are laborious, costs are excessive, and we’ve got been with out work for over a 12 months and a half.”
Ceasefire talks
The final spherical of oblique ceasefire talks led to impasse in late July with the edges buying and selling blame for its collapse.
Israel has mentioned it is going to comply with stop hostilities if all of the hostages are launched and Hamas lays down its arms – the latter demand publicly rejected by the Islamist group till a Palestinian state is established.
A Hamas official advised Reuters earlier on Monday the group rejected Israeli calls for to disarm or expel its leaders from Gaza.
Sharp variations additionally appeared to stay over the extent of an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the way humanitarian assist can be delivered across the enclave, the place malnutrition is rife and assist teams warn of unfolding famine.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on his social media platform on Monday: “We’ll solely see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The earlier this takes place, the higher the probabilities of success can be.”
The struggle started when Hamas-led militants stormed throughout the border into southern Israel, killing 1,200 folks and taking 251 hostages again to Gaza, based on Israeli tallies.
Greater than 61,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Israel’s ensuing air and floor struggle in Gaza, based on native well being officers who don’t distinguish between fighters and non-combatants.
5 extra Palestinians have died of malnutrition and hunger previously 24 hours, the Gaza well being ministry mentioned on Monday, elevating the quantity of people that died of these causes to 263, together with 112 kids, for the reason that struggle began.—Reuters
