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New Israel-Gaza ceasefire plan proposed, some details revealed

New Israel-Gaza ceasefire plan proposed, some details revealed

A senior Palestinian official familiar with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations told the BBC that Qatari and Egyptian mediators have proposed a new formula to end the war in Gaza.

According to the official, it envisages a ceasefire lasting from five to seven years, the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, a formal end to the war and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, reports the Telegraph.

Thus, a senior Hamas delegation would arrive in Cairo for consultations.


The last ceasefire collapsed a month ago when Israel resumed bombing Gaza, with both sides blaming each other for the failure to continue.

Israel has not commented on the mediators' plan.

Meanwhile, 22 Palestinians have been killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip since Monday evening, a medical official in the Hamas-run health ministry told the BBC.

The official said they were killed in Khan Younis, Jabalia, Beit Lahia and Gaza City and that 45 other people were wounded.

Local residents and eyewitnesses described the airstrikes as "extremely intense."

Tanks were also seen moving in the southern part of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.

As Israel continues its offensive, talks will take place in Cairo with Hamas, represented at a high level by the head of its political council, Mohammed Darwish, and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya.

The meeting comes days after the movement rejected Israel's latest proposal, which included a demand that Hamas disarm in exchange for a six-week ceasefire.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not end the war before Hamas was destroyed and all hostages were returned.

On the other hand, Hamas has asked Israel to commit to ending the war before the hostages are released. /Telegraph/