In a recent development, the Egyptian government has put forward a new proposal to mediate a truce between Israel and Hamas, aiming for the release of prisoners as part of an extended 50-day ceasefire agreement. The plan would see five prisoners released over the course of the truce, with one prisoner freed every ten days. The overarching goal is to foster a new phase of negotiations, specifically progressing the second phase of the January ceasefire agreement.
However, there are conflicting reports about the terms of the hostage releases. While Egypt’s initial proposal calls for the release of five prisoners, Israel is reportedly demanding the release of 11 living hostages. Some observers doubt the willingness of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate in good faith on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, raising concerns about the prospects for a genuine breakthrough.
An alternative Egyptian proposal, highlighted by Reuters, would see the release of five prisoners per week. This version of the plan would also require Israel to implement the second phase of the ceasefire agreement after the first week.
As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether these new proposals will succeed in advancing peace efforts or whether challenges on both sides will hinder the process further.
