Six weeks of temporary truce in exchange for the release of 40 hostages. This would be the substance - according to Egyptian sources cited by the Qatari newspaper 'Al-Araby Al-Jadeed', reported by Israeli media - of the proposal put forward by the USA for a temporary ceasefire in the Strip now being examined by Hamas and Israel. There would also be a partial return of displaced people to the northern part of Gaza. The proposal also includes the option of an initial 3-day truce, without any obligation, for the days of Eid el-Fitr, which begins tomorrow evening.
"The proposal for the release of the hostages has been delivered to Hamas, now we are waiting for their response and it could take some time." The spokesman for the American National Security Council, John Kirby, said this in a briefing with a small group of journalists.
An Egyptian source told state broadcaster Al Qahera that negotiations on Gaza in Cairo have made "great progress" and that talks will continue over the next 48 hours. According to the source, there would be "agreement on the main points between the various parties". Delegations from Israel, Hamas, the United States and Qatar will leave the Egyptian capital in the next few hours, but are expected to return in two days "to agree on the articles of the final agreement".
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told Sky News they were "cautious about rumours" about progress in ceasefire negotiations. "Until there is an agreement, there is no agreement," he said. “Our role is to continue to increase the pressure on Hamas so that there is the will to negotiate,” he added, underlining that “there are still 133 Israelis held in the clutches of Hamas. They must be brought home. We can do this through negotiations or operations ".
Israeli sources have downplayed the possibility of an imminent agreement. “We still don't see an agreement on the horizon,” they said. "The distance between the parties - they explained - is still large and so far there has been nothing significant". A Hamas source also told al Jazeera that for now "there is no progress", blaming Israel for this.
US, 'the threat from Iran is still active'
"We consider the threat from Iran to be still active." The spokesman for the American Security Council, John Kirby, said this in a press briefing regarding the alert launched by Washington on Friday. “Iran should use its influence to push Hamas to end the war,” the official added.
'CIA proposes temporary pause for Eid el-Fitr'
The Saudi broadcaster 'Al-Sharq' - reported by Ynet - reported that the head of the CIA William Burns has proposed to stop fighting in all its forms during the Eid al-Fitr holiday which lasts three days starting tomorrow evening and ends Ramadan.
According to the same source, during the temporary pause, the ongoing negotiations in Cairo between the parties are expected to continue.
There is currently no confirmation in Israel or even what the terms of the hostage proposal might be.
'This time it's different'
“This time it's different, we haven't been this close to an agreement for months,” says a source at Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 regarding the Cairo negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the Gaza Strip. Shortly before, an Egyptian source had revealed that the talks had recorded "great progress" and that negotiations will continue in the next 48 hours.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Tajani, 'guarantees from Israel for Food for Gaza' - News - Ansa.it 'May the IDF not enter Rafah'. Katz in Rome with the families of the kidnapped (ANSA)
Hamas highlights its conditions
Hamas says its delegation that arrived in Cairo for negotiations on the Gaza Strip met last night with Egyptian intelligence director General Abbas Kamel. In a statement quoted by local media, the Palestinian Islamist movement reiterated its demands: the complete cessation of aggression by Israeli forces, their withdrawal from the Strip, the free return of displaced people from the Palestinian enclave to their areas and places of residence, relief for Palestinians and the beginning of reconstruction, an agreement for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages.
Ben Gvir: 'Without action in Rafah, Netanyahu will no longer be prime minister'
“If Netanyahu decides to end the war without a widespread attack on Rafah to defeat Hamas, he will not have the mandate to continue serving as prime minister.” This was stated by the minister of national security - and radical right leader - Itamar Ben Gvir, quoted by the media. Before him, the other radical right-wing minister of 'Religious Zionism', and responsible for finances, Bezalel Smotrich, according to the media, convened his party to evaluate the situation after the army's announcement of withdrawal from Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza.
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