Egypt proposes new deal for Gaza ceasefire: Israeli media

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
8 Apr 2025 01:26

Egypt has sent a new deal aimed at securing the release of Israeli captives from the Gaza Strip and a permanent ceasefire.

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Children walk by the destroyed house of journalist Islam Meqdad, where she was martyred along with her son and five other family members in an Israeli occupation forces strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on April 6, 2025. (AP)

The Israeli regime received Egypt's updated proposal for a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The deal revolves around the release of eight living captives from the Gaza Strip in exchange for a truce that lasts between 40 and 70 days. Captives would be released in stages; however, Israeli media outlets said that neither the Palestinian Resistance led by Hamas nor the Israeli government had issued their final response to the deal.

In detail, the proposal includes guarantees for a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.

Among the eight captives to be released is Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, whom Hamas had previously offered to release. Moreover, the deal would also allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and the entry of humanitarian aid.

According to reports, the Egyptian deal also guarantees that negotiations begin for a second phase of the agreement.

These reports coincide with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's second visit to the White House since Donald Trump assumed his presidency.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said that he would like to see the war in Gaza stop.

"I’d like to see the war stop, and I think the war will stop at some point that won’t be in the too distant future," Trump stated.

"Right now, we have a problem with hostages. We’re trying to get the hostages out…. It’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long," he added.

Israeli authorities reneged on a multi-phase ceasefire agreement in March, violating key clauses before launching a wide-scale aerial assault on the Gaza Strip. Since then, the Israeli regime has escalated its military campaign with relentless bombardment, coupled with a ground invasion that has pushed into multiple areas—including northern Rafah—further deepening its aggression across the besieged territory.