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Cairo, Egypt — August 20, 2025
Mediators have formally delivered a ceasefire proposal to the Israeli government after receiving confirmation that Hamas and allied Palestinian factions have accepted the terms. The initiative, led by Egypt and Qatar, aims to halt nearly two years of conflict in Gaza and initiate negotiations toward a permanent truce.
📜 Proposal Details and Terms
According to officials involved in the talks, the ceasefire framework includes:
- A 60-day truce during which hostilities would pause
- The release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others held by Hamas
- The exchange of approximately 1,700 Palestinian prisoners, including 200 serving life sentences
- A daily influx of 600 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza
- A phased Israeli troop pullback to a buffer zone within the Strip
- Immediate negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement
The proposal was presented to Hamas in Cairo and accepted on August 18. Arab diplomats described the plan as a “pathway to a broader resolution,” noting that it closely resembles a previous framework supported by the United States and tentatively accepted by Israel earlier this year.
🇮🇱 Israeli Response and Conditions
While Israeli officials confirmed receipt of the proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signaled skepticism. In public remarks, he reiterated that Israel’s position remains unchanged: the war will not end until Hamas is disarmed, all hostages are released, and Israel retains long-term security control over Gaza.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, stated that the government is unwilling to accept partial deals and is focused on achieving “total dismantlement” of Hamas’s military infrastructure.
🗣️ Mediator and International Reactions
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani have urged both sides to engage constructively. The mediators emphasized that the current proposal reflects months of negotiation and concessions, particularly from Hamas, which has reportedly dropped several earlier demands.
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff has been invited to join the talks, while international observers continue to monitor the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where over 62,000 people have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
🔍 Outlook and Next Steps
The ceasefire proposal is seen as a critical opportunity to de-escalate the conflict and address the worsening humanitarian crisis. However, the path forward remains uncertain, with Israel’s leadership facing internal pressure from both security hardliners and families of hostages demanding urgent action.
Negotiations are expected to continue in Cairo this week, with mediators hoping to secure a phased agreement that could lay the groundwork for a lasting peace.
