Cairo Proposes New Gaza Ceasefire Deal Amid Ongoing Hostage Crisis

 Egypt has tabled a fresh ceasefire proposal aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a report published Monday by the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat. However, Israeli officials say they have yet to receive any formal offer from Cairo.

The reported plan, citing an unnamed Egyptian official, outlines a phased deal in which Hamas would release eight living Israeli hostages and hand over the remains of eight others. In exchange, Israel would release a large number of Palestinian detainees, including individuals it classifies as security prisoners. The proposed truce would last between 40 and 70 days.

The deal is said to bridge the gap between Hamas's earlier offer — five hostages in return for a 50-day ceasefire — and Israel’s demand for the release of 11 captives. Under the current proposal, the release of the eight hostages would occur in multiple stages rather than all at once. As of now, neither Hamas nor Israel has issued a formal response to the reported terms.

Jerusalem/Cairo  April 8, 2025 A senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel that Jerusalem had not received any updated Egyptian proposal by Monday evening. However, the official acknowledged Cairo's continuing efforts to broker a new formula for a truce.

The development comes as a Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo for further talks, according to Qatar-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

The hostages referenced in the proposed deal were abducted on October 7, 2023, during a large-scale Hamas assault on southern Israel. The attack left approximately 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, and 251 individuals were taken hostage.

While a temporary truce in November 2023 facilitated the release of over 100 hostages, mainly women and children, further negotiations have faltered. A follow-up ceasefire in January 2025 led to the release of dozens more in exchange for humanitarian aid and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

The January agreement was structured in three phases: the initial hostage release, followed by negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the talks collapsed after Israel refused to proceed to the second phase, citing concerns that it would allow Hamas to retain power in the enclave.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though a signatory to the January deal, has consistently rejected the phase two provisions, effectively stalling further negotiations. Intelligence sources now estimate that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom only 24 are believed to be alive.

Tensions escalated further on Friday when Hamas issued a warning stating it would not relocate hostages from areas designated for evacuation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), placing full responsibility on Israel should any captives be harmed. The IDF has recently ordered evacuations in multiple areas, including Rafah and parts of Gaza City.

Hamas has previously executed hostages in retaliation for Israeli military incursions, including the murder of six captives in Rafah last August.

Meanwhile, since Israel resumed intensive military operations in Gaza on March 18, the Hamas-run health ministry reports over 1,000 Palestinian fatalities. The figures remain unverified and do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

As international mediators continue their efforts, the latest Egyptian proposal could represent a narrow but critical opportunity to revive diplomacy and avert further bloodshed in the region. However, its success depends on whether both sides are willing to make the political and strategic concessions needed to move forward.