Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye propose ceasefire plan to Hamas to end Gaza war

Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye have jointly presented Hamas negotiators with a detailed ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages, according to the Arabic edition of Sky News.

The plan includes the release of all hostages—both living and deceased—in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It calls for Israel to withdraw its troops “under Arab-American control” until an agreement is reached on disarming Hamas and ending its administration of Gaza.

In the meantime, Türkiye and other mediators would guarantee that Hamas halts all military actions, allowing negotiations for a complete cessation of hostilities.

If Hamas agrees to these terms, the proposal will be forwarded to American mediators for transmission to Israel. The plan is designed to deny Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu any justification for a full occupation of Gaza.

Israeli media reported on August 11 that Netanyahu insists on a deal that includes the release of all remaining hostages, rejecting any partial agreements. Sources close to the prime minister told journalists that he would only consider negotiations under conditions set by Israel, with a clear focus on ending the war and the full return of hostages. Until then, Israel will not engage in negotiations.

Netanyahu’s position had been unclear following the security cabinet’s August 7 decision to capture Gaza City, but recent reports suggest he now supports the view of his top adviser, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who argued against partial deals during the cabinet meeting.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly attack, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports over 60,000 deaths since, a figure Israel disputes. Israeli officials state they have killed 21,600 militants while losing 459 personnel during the campaign.

By Tamilla Hasanova