Egypt Proposes Two-Day Gaza Ceasefire

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, as part of efforts to achieve a more permanent truce following over a year of conflict. The initiative, announced during a press conference with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aims to initiate negotiations within ten days for a comprehensive ceasefire. Despite the ongoing violence, with Israeli airstrikes resulting in significant Palestinian casualties, Sisi's proposal seeks to de-escalate tensions and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Negotiations involving the CIA and Mossad are ongoing in Qatar, exploring potential hostage release agreements. While Hamas has expressed intentions to negotiate for a full end to hostilities, Israeli officials maintain that the military campaign against Hamas will continue until the group is dismantled as a governing entity. This development comes amid heightened international scrutiny and calls for restraint following recent Israeli military actions in the region.