Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine), 25.03.2025
In a report last Friday, Reuters informed that sources in Cairo said that the Egyptian proposal included that the parties would set a timetable for the release of the hostages, along with a final date for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, with American guarantees. The sources noted that the United States signaled preliminary approval, while Israel said that no mediation proposal had been received.
This morning it was reported that Egypt has submitted a new proposal for a deal between Israel and Hamas that could put the ceasefire back on track. As early as last Friday, the Reuters news agency reported on the proposal, but it did not disclose details of it.
Today we know more. The Egyptian proposal calls for the return of five to six abductees, including the soldier with American citizenship, Idan Alexander, in exchange for a few weeks of ceasefire, the introduction of humanitarian aid, and partial compliance with Israel’s demand for the treatment of the Israeli prisoners of war.
A Hamas source told the AP that the organization “responded positively” to the proposal, which differed from the last outline it had agreed to: the release of Idan Alexander, along with four hostages of dead American citizens.
Israel rejected a similar proposal last month. Israeli officials: “This is a proposal from five days ago.”
A source quoted in the Qatari newspaper Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed said this morning that the Egyptian proposal obligates Hamas to provide detailed information about the live abductees, the dead and the wounded, including photographic evidence to substantiate the information. However, the information was not published in the report published by the AP and has no confirmation from other sources. The issue of the return of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip came up this morning at a press conference between Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and European Union Foreign Minister Kaya Callas.
“We will have to make sure that we resume humanitarian aid in a different way than what happened in the 17 months of war. In a way that will not strengthen Hamas and will not give Hamas an opportunity to use the aid as a financial engine that will help it in its military efforts,” Sa’ar said.
In the past Israel allowed some criminal gangs to take over the aid trucks, and it seems that this is what Sa’ar wants. In any case Netanyahu will find another way to refuse to reach the end of the war as it will mean he will be sent to jail for corruption. Hamas is ready to leave the political power but refuses and correctly so to disarm itself.
Down with the Zionist monster!
Exchange all for all!
Israel out of Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria now!
For Palestine, red and free from the river to the sea!