CAIRO/JERUSALEM: As violence in Gaza escalates, Egypt has put forward a new proposal to restore the ceasefire, according to security sources. This comes in light of reports from Palestinian health authorities indicating that Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least 65 people in the past 24 hours. Israel's renewed military operations against Hamas began last Tuesday, disrupting a two-month period of relative calm.

Since resuming its attacks, Israel has reportedly killed nearly 700 Palestinians, including over 400 women and children. The situation has led several Hamas officials to confirm that several of their senior political and security figures have also been killed. The Egyptian ceasefire plan suggests that Hamas should release five Israeli hostages each week, and Israel would then implement the second phase of the ceasefire after this first week, according to sources.

Currently, Hamas is believed to be holding 59 hostages, with 24 presumed to be alive. While both the U.S. and Hamas have expressed agreement with Egypt's proposal, Israel has yet to respond. A Hamas official commented, "several proposals are being discussed with mediators," reflecting ongoing negotiations to bridge gaps.

The Egyptian proposal is expected to include a timeline for Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza in exchange for a guaranteed release of hostages, as reported by Reuters.

Amidst the continuing conflict, it is reported that Hamas has accused Israel of breaching previous ceasefire terms, while also expressing a willingness to continue negotiations. Israeli forces maintain that their military action is necessary for pressuring Hamas to release hostages. Israeli officials argue they strive to minimize civilian casualties but have challenged the death toll figures provided by the Hamas-run health authorities.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become increasingly acute, with reports indicating that around 50,000 residents remain trapped with limited access to essential resources like food and medical supplies due to the ongoing siege.

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