Egypt has made a new proposal aimed at getting the ceasefire agreement back on track as the Israeli air and ground operations continue in Gaza, reported Reuters.
On Monday, the Gaza Health Ministry said that Israeli airstrikes killed more than 65 Palestinians over the previous 24 hours, while the UN said it would reduce its staff in the enclave after a strike killed 5 of its employees.
New Egyptian Proposal
After Israel had resumed its air and ground operations in Gaza, on March 18, 2025, Egypt floated a new proposal to restore the ceasefire deal that took effect on January 19.
Two security sources told Reuters that under the Egyptian plan, Hamas would release 5 Israeli hostages each week, while Israel would move forward with the second phase of the original ceasefire agreement after the first week.
Moreover, the proposal outlines a timeline for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, supported by US guarantees, in return for releasing the remaining hostages.
An Egyptian official told the Associated Press (AP) that the proposal involves Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, pausing fighting for a week, and releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Response to Egypt’s Proposal
According to Reuters, Hamas and the US have responded positively to Egypt‘s proposal. However, Israel has not yet responded.
A Hamas official told Reuters that “several proposals are being discussed with the mediators to bridge the gap and to resume negotiations to reach common ground that would pave the way to start the second phase of the agreement.”
Hamas is holding 59 hostages in Gaza, 24 of them are thought to be still alive. Most of the 250 hostages taken during the October 7 attack have been freed or their bodies handed over as part of negotiated exchanges.
Israel’s War on Gaza
Israel resumed its air and ground operations in Gaza on March 18 to “force Hamas to release the remaining hostages,” it says. The Palestinian movement accused Israel of breaching the terms of the ceasefire agreement but expressed willingness to negotiate proposals, including from the US Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Since the resumption of aggression, Israeli airstrikes and bombing have killed around 700 Palestinians, including at least 400 women and children, according to Gaza Health Ministry.
On Sunday night, Israel hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis city, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, killing two people, including a child, injuring others and causing a large fire, reported AP.
The war in Gaza erupted following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. The Gaza war has so far claimed the lives of over 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Reducing UN Staff
The UN said on Monday that it will reduce its footprint in Gaza, but remains committed to providing aid to civilians. This comes after Israeli strikes killed five staff members of the Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA).
The UN Secretary-General spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said that the agency will temporarily remove about a third of its approximately 100 international staffers working in Gaza, pointing to the increased danger following the renewed Israeli military campaign.
Missile Attacks on Israel
On Monday evening, sound of air raid sirens and explosions echoed across Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and central Israel as the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen. The Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted Israel with a handful of long-range missiles over the past week, although they have not claimed responsibility.
Furthermore, the Israeli military said it intercepted two rockets launched from Gaza. Al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, claimed responsibility, according to AP.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in both incidents.
