Mediators Present Multi-Year Truce Proposal
A senior Palestinian official involved in ceasefire negotiations has revealed that Qatari and Egyptian mediators have introduced a new proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The plan includes a five to seven-year truce, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a formal end to hostilities, and a complete Israeli military withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
The proposal arrives amid ongoing hostilities and comes just weeks after the collapse of the last ceasefire agreement. The new talks are expected to take place in Cairo, with a high-level Hamas delegation, including political council head Mohammed Darwish and lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, scheduled to attend.
Intensified Conflict in Gaza
Even as diplomatic efforts continue, violence on the ground has escalated. Since Monday evening, Israeli air strikes have killed at least 22 Palestinians and injured 45 more, according to a medical source in the Hamas-run health ministry. The strikes hit locations including Khan Younis, Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Gaza City.
Eyewitnesses described the bombardments as “extremely intense,” with dozens of bulldozers and heavy machinery destroyed. These machines, often operated by Hamas-run municipal teams, were reportedly used to clear debris and rescue people trapped under collapsed buildings.
Talks Amid Political Gridlock
The latest negotiation efforts follow Hamas’s rejection of Israel’s previous proposal, which demanded the disarmament of Hamas in return for a six-week ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated over the weekend that Israel would not end the war until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are safely returned.
However, the Palestinian official speaking to the BBC said Hamas has shown “unprecedented flexibility.” The group is reportedly open to handing over governance of Gaza to any agreed-upon Palestinian authority, either the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) or a newly created governing body. Netanyahu has firmly opposed any role for the PA in Gaza’s future leadership, continuing a long-standing political division.
Background to the Conflict
The current round of conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a large-scale attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducting 251 individuals. Israel responded with a military campaign that has resulted in the deaths of over 51,240 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
While the international community continues to call for restraint and humanitarian aid access, ground realities remain dire. Israeli tanks have been sighted in the southern city of Rafah, and ongoing strikes have disrupted civil infrastructure and aid operations.
Diplomatic Presence Relocates
In a separate development, the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo has ordered staff coordinating medical evacuations and aid deliveries to relocate to Arish, an Egyptian city near the Gaza border. The move is seen as a precautionary measure amid the intensifying situation on the ground.
Looking Ahead
While it is too early to determine the success of this latest ceasefire proposal, analysts view the engagement of senior Hamas figures and the reported willingness to compromise as signs of serious intent. As negotiations unfold in Cairo, global eyes remain fixed on whether diplomacy can finally bring a halt to one of the most devastating chapters in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Category: Middle East, International Politics, Conflict & War
Tags: Israel, Gaza, Ceasefire, Hamas, Qatari Mediation, Egyptian Mediation, Hostages, Prisoner Swap, Netanyahu, Gaza War, Mohammed Darwish, Khalil al-Hayya
