Egypt Ceasefire Proposal Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, aimed at facilitating the release of four Israeli hostages in exchange for some Palestinian prisoners, along with the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This initiative, announced at a press conference in Cairo alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, seeks to 'move the situation forward' and pave the way for further negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire. The proposal has not yet received responses from Israel or Hamas. Concurrently, Israel's Mossad chief is in Doha for discussions with Qatari officials and the CIA to address the conflict, which escalated following a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Amidst this, tensions have risen with Israel's recent military actions against Hezbollah in Lebanon and strikes on Iranian sites, marking the first direct confrontations with Tehran. Egyptian efforts are supported by Qatar and the United States as part of broader mediation attempts to de-escalate the regional conflict.