New Gaza ceasefire proposal raises hopes for resolution despite ongoing conflict

A senior Palestinian official familiar with the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas has revealed that Qatari and Egyptian mediators have proposed a new formula aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

The plan, according to the official, calls for a truce lasting between five and seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a formal conclusion to the war, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

A senior Hamas delegation, including political council head Mohammed Darwish and lead negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, was scheduled to arrive in Cairo for consultations on the proposal.

The last ceasefire attempt collapsed a month ago when Israel resumed airstrikes on Gaza, with both sides blaming each other for the failure to maintain it. Israel has yet to comment on the new proposal, while Hamas rejected Israel’s latest offer, which included a demand for the disarmament of Hamas in exchange for a six-week truce.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will not end until "Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages returned." Hamas has insisted that Israel must commit to ending the war before any hostages are freed.

The Palestinian official indicated that Hamas has shown "unprecedented flexibility" and is open to handing over governance of Gaza to a Palestinian entity agreed upon by national and regional stakeholders, including the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) or a newly formed administrative body.

Netanyahu, however, has rejected any role for the PA in Gaza's future governance, which has been under Hamas control since 2007.

While it is still uncertain whether the mediation efforts will succeed, the official described the current discussions as serious and suggested there may be potential for progress.

Since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, Hamas has killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, primarily civilians, and taken 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of 51,240 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

In related developments, the Palestinian Embassy in Cairo has instructed its staff to relocate with their families to the Egyptian city of Arish, near the Gaza border, following their role in coordinating medical evacuations and facilitating humanitarian aid to Gaza.

By Aghakazim Guliyev