In an effort to rekindle the recently strained ceasefire in Gaza, Egypt has introduced a new proposal, as reported by security sources. This comes at a time when Palestinian health officials have tragically announced that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 65 individuals within a single day.
The proposal, unveiled last week, follows a notable uptick in violence as Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas militants on March 18. This escalation abruptly disrupted a two-month period of relative tranquility that had followed a lengthy 15-month conflict. As the situation worsens, Gaza health officials report that Israeli military actions have claimed nearly 700 Palestinian lives, including the heartbreaking loss of at least 400 women and children.
Regrettably, the casualties include two local journalists, Mohammad Mansour and Hussam Shabat, as confirmed by medical personnel.
As of yet, there has been no immediate comment from Israeli officials.
Hamas has also reported that several of its senior political and security figures have lost their lives in the recent violence. In response to the escalating situation, the Egyptian plan proposes that Hamas releases five Israeli hostages each week, paving the way for Israel to implement the second phase of the ceasefire after the initial week, according to two security sources.
Currently, Hamas is believed to still hold 59 hostages, with 24 thought to be alive, out of the more than 250 taken during the cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Most of the other hostages have been liberated through intermittent negotiations.
Notably, both the United States and Hamas have expressed support for the new proposal; however, Israel has yet to respond. A spokesperson for Hamas did not confirm the details of the proposal but mentioned, “Several proposals are being discussed with the mediators to bridge the gap and to resume negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement.”
In a further development, the sources indicate that the Egyptian initiative includes a timetable for the complete withdrawal of Israeli military forces from Gaza, supported by guarantees from the United States, in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. Although Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms of a ceasefire agreement established in January, they remain open to negotiating a renewed truce and are currently reviewing suggestions from U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
Israel contends that its military operations are intended to compel Hamas to release the remaining hostages, asserting that they are taking measures to minimize civilian harm while questioning the casualty figures provided by officials in the Hamas-controlled region.
In the West Bank, Palestinian families have been forcibly displaced from the Al-Ain refugee camp as violence escalates. Palestinian authorities have reported over 50,000 casualties resulting from nearly 18 months of conflict. The Israeli offensive in Gaza was initially launched in response to an attack by Hamas fighters on October 7, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly among civilians, according to Israeli figures.
In the southern city of Rafah, thousands of residents are trapped in the Tel Al-Sultan district, which has been partially occupied by Israeli military forces. Many families find themselves stuck among the rubble without access to water, food, or medical supplies. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service specifies that 50,000 individuals remain stranded in Rafah, which borders Egypt.
The Israeli military has stated that its troops are encircling Tel Al-Sultan to dismantle what they describe as “terror infrastructure” and neutralize threats in the area. Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reports that around 124,000 individuals have been displaced within Gaza in the recent days, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation. UNRWA commented, “Families carry what little they have, with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go. The Israeli authorities have cut off all aid, food is scarce, and prices are skyrocketing. This is a humanitarian catastrophe. The siege must end.”
Additionally, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has condemned the dire situation faced by Palestinians forcibly displaced by ongoing Israeli military operations in the occupied West Bank. MSF has urged Israel to “immediately halt” the forcible displacement of Palestinians and emphasized the need to scale up the humanitarian response. According to United Nations estimates, approximately 40,000 residents have been displaced since January 21, when Israel initiated military actions targeting Palestinian armed groups in northern territories.
With the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, housing about three million Palestinians alongside nearly 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements deemed illegal under international law, the conditions for displaced Palestinians are reported to be “extremely precarious.” MSF notes that tens of thousands lack adequate shelter, essential services, and healthcare access. “The mental health situation is alarming,” they state. The organization continues to stress that the scale of forced displacement and the destruction of camps has not been witnessed in decades.
“People are unable to return to their homes as Israeli forces have blocked access to the camps and destroyed homes and infrastructure,” said Brice de la Vingne, MSF’s Director of Operations. “Israel must stop this, and the humanitarian response needs to be scaled up.”
The Israeli military operation, referred to as “Iron Wall,” is primarily focused on three refugee camps: Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams. Defence Minister Israel Katz indicated in February that this operation could extend over several months, stating, “I have instructed soldiers to prepare for a prolonged stay in the evacuated camps in the coming year, ensuring that residents cannot return and preventing the resurgence of terrorism.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
