News: Egypt presents new proposal to restore ceasefire in Gaza

Egyptian security sources say Egypt has put forward a new proposal aimed at restoring the ceasefire in Gaza.

Reuters reported that security sources on Monday (March 24) said that Egypt on Sunday (23) night made a new proposal aimed at restoring the Gaza ceasefire agreement, asking Hamas to release five living Israeli hostages, including an Israeli soldier who holds dual Israeli and U.S. citizenship, in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. To prepare for the resumption of negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The Egyptian proposal includes a timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, guaranteed by the United States, in exchange for the release of the hostages, the sources said.

Both the United States and Hamas agreed to the proposal, but Israel has yet to respond.

Hamas officials did not confirm the proposal, but responded that "several proposals are being discussed with the mediators to bridge differences and resume negotiations to reach a consensus and pave the way for the launch of a second phase agreement".

Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas last Tuesday, stressing that the resumption of military operations was aimed at forcing the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry said Monday that 730 people have been killed and 1,367 wounded since Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18. At least 57 people have died in the last 24 hours alone.

On Sunday, an Israeli drone bombed the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing at least five people, including Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas's political bureau.