Egypt proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Egypt proposes a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

Egypt proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which four hostages held in Gaza are to be freed, announced President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The proposal also includes the release of some Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Egypt was a key intermediary along with Qatar and the USA. This is the first Time the President of Egypt has publicly proposed such a plan. There is no response from Israel or Hamas yet.

Al-Sisi stated that the proposal aims to move the situation forward. After the two-day ceasefire, negotiations are planned to continue to make it permanent.

More than a month of fighting

There has been no ceasefire for 11 months since the November weeklong pause in fighting when 105 hostages were freed in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.

Exchange of strikes between Israel and Iran

Egypt's proposal came after Israeli strikes on Iran in response to Iranian ballistic missile attacks earlier this month. Iran refrains from calls for retaliation. This exchange of strikes has raised concerns about a full-scale regional war between Israel, the USA, and Iran and their allies.

In Lebanon, Israel launched a ground invasion earlier this month after nearly a year of low-level conflict sparked by the war in Gaza. Israel's enemies are Hamas and Hezbollah, Lebanon's militant group.