Hamas agrees to Egyptian ceasefire as Israel escalates ops
Hamas has agreed to the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Khalil al-Hayya, one of the leaders of this Palestinian group, on Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel is expanding its ground operations.
What do you need to know?
- Hamas accepted the ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar, which includes a 50-day cessation of fighting in exchange for the release of five Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
- Israel presented its own counterproposal, coordinated with the USA, though details remain undisclosed. Talks are ongoing, but reaching an agreement before the end of Ramadan is unlikely.
- The Israeli army has expanded ground operations in the southern Gaza Strip, focusing on Hamas infrastructure near the city of Rafah.
What are the terms of the ceasefire?
Hamas has agreed to the ceasefire proposal presented by Egypt and Qatar. Khalil al-Hayya, a leader of Hamas, confirmed their acceptance of the conditions, which include a 50-day cessation of fighting.
In return, Hamas is to release five Israeli hostages, while Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners and resume humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.
Will Israel agree to the ceasefire?
While Israel has received the ceasefire proposal, it has presented its own counterproposal, coordinated with the USA.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the government discussed the mediators' offer. However, reaching an agreement before the end of Ramadan seems unlikely.
What are Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip?
The Israeli army has expanded its ground operations in the southern Gaza Strip, particularly near the city of Rafah. In recent days, dozens of attacks on Hamas infrastructure have been carried out.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that in the past 24 hours, 25 people were killed in Israeli attacks, and since the resumption of the offensive on March 18, the number of casualties has risen to 921.
