Egypt denies Hamas weapons transfer, confirms 60-day Gaza truce plan
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Egypt rejected Israeli media claims on Hamas weapons transfer, saying its joint plan with Qatar ensures a 60-day Gaza truce backed by the US.
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Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli occupation forces airstrike in Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, Monday, August 18, 2025 (AP)
Egyptian sources on Tuesday dismissed Israeli media claims that Cairo had proposed transferring Hamas’ weapons to Egypt as part of a ceasefire arrangement. Speaking to Cairo News, the sources clarified that the joint proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, and accepted by Hamas, centers on a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
According to the sources, negotiations for a permanent truce will begin on the first day the temporary agreement takes effect. They added that the plan, backed by the United States and overseen by President Donald Trump, is designed to create a framework for lasting stability.
The mediators’ proposal, accepted by Hamas, ensures a path toward a comprehensive deal that would secure the release of all Israeli captives held in Gaza, the Egyptian officials said. They also noted that the Israeli regime had yet to provide its official response, despite having received the proposal more than 24 hours earlier.
Egyptian sources stressed that the Israeli government faces “a real test” in proving its willingness to negotiate for the release of captives. “There is no way to secure their return except through negotiations based on the Witkoff proposal,” one source said, referring to the earlier plan presented by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Gaza ceasefire proposal near-identical to Witkoff deal
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday that the latest ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Hamas has accepted, is “almost identical” to a plan previously put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Hamas and other Palestinian resistance factions announced Monday their approval of the truce initiative presented by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
According to Reuters, which cited an unnamed Egyptian official, the most recent ceasefire proposal envisions a 60-day pause in military operations, alongside a prisoner exchange that would see Palestinian detainees released in return for half of the Israeli captives.
The Egyptian source added that the proposal outlines a pathway toward reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the war. Hamas has reportedly accepted the terms put forth by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Details of new US proposal for Gaza ceasefire
Israeli media outlets have revealed a new US proposal aimed at completely ending the war on the Gaza Strip, outlining a multi-phase plan that would begin with a temporary ceasefire during which negotiations would take place to determine the final stage of the war.
According to details published by the newspaper Israel Hayom, the first phase of the plan includes a 60-day ceasefire alongside a prisoner exchange deal, under which 10 living Israeli prisoners would be released and the bodies of 18 others would be handed over, in exchange for the release of over 1,200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including some serving life sentences.
According to the plan, the second phase aims to achieve a complete and permanent cessation of hostilities, while the final phase would involve placing Gaza under an internationally backed administration led by the US, with priority given to reconstruction efforts.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for certain aspects of the proposal but reiterated "Israel's" longstanding conditions, including "the disarmament of Hamas," maintaining Israeli security control over the territory, and establishing an alternative civilian administration.
