The new Egyptian intelligence chief, Hassan Rashad, proposed a “small” prisoner-swap deal that includes a two-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of five soldiers, followed by broad negotiations. He requested a 48-hour ceasefire to finalize the details.
Hamas stated that it discussed the ceasefire proposal with Egyptian officials to try to reach an understanding.
Cairo News Channel quoted an Egyptian official saying: “A high-level Egyptian security delegation is meeting with a Hamas leadership delegation in Cairo to review the current situation in Gaza and ways to overcome obstacles to calm in the Strip.”
On Thursday, the Al-Aqsa Radio, affiliated with Hamas, stated that a delegation from the movement, headed by leader Khalil Al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo.
It stated that the delegation intends to meet with the new Egyptian Intelligence Chief, Hasan Mahmoud Rashad.
Hamas officials said the movement is ready to reach a deal in Gaza if Israel commits to a ceasefire.”
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar presented the initiative to the Israeli government, adding that Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and some ministers expressed their support for it, except for the far-right, colonialist-settler and “National Security Miniter,” Itamar Ben Gvir and far-right politician, colonialist settler, “Minister of Finance” Bezalel Yoel Smotrich.
Al Jazeera study shows the depth of UK and US involvement in the #GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/ib4XV8QTsw
— tim anderson (@timand2037) October 24, 2024
Netanyahu’s office stated that he welcomed Egypt’s willingness to promote an agreement to release the [Israeli] hostages.
Following the meetings held in Cairo, the Prime Minister instructed the Mossad chief to go to Doha and hold a series of talks.
The chances of the deal’s success remain low, especially due to Israel’s insistence on remaining in Gaza and maintaining control of the Rafah Border Terminal in Egypt, among many vital issues, including the release of Palestinian political prisoners, especially senior Palestinian political leaders, and imprisoned fighters.
Israel has ramped up attacks on northern Gaza, killing over 770 Palestinians in 19 days.
Here’s what you need to know about the “General’s Plan” and why Israel is targeting northern Gaza. pic.twitter.com/7OsDzq5HMv
— AJ+ (@ajplus) October 24, 2024
Many of the Gaza Strip detainees have been killed by the soldiers, and many more died due to extreme torture, inhumane conditions, and the absence of medical treatment in the prison camps.
Israel is holding captive more than 16.400 Palestinians, 11.400 of them are from the occupied West Bank, and 5.000 are from Gaza, although the number of detainees from Gaza is higher, but cannot be accurately confirmed as Israel is holding detainees who were taken from Gaza since October 7, 2023, in many interrogation facilities, amidst blackout of information, in addition to the abduction of dozens of Palestinians in northern Gaza in the last few days.
In related news, United Nations Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said, Thursday, that the Israeli blockade of northern Gaza shows a lack of respect for international law.
In a press conference, Haq explained that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) discussed the massive destruction in Gaza because of the Israeli aggression.
He stated, “The massive destruction caused by the blockade in northern Gaza shows that the war is being waged without respect for international law. Families there are trapped in their places and cannot move.”
Haq noted that between 50,000 to 70,000 people are currently in Jabalia, and 63,000 people have been displaced from the north to the central part of the Strip.
In response to a question about the United Nations’ message to the residents of northern Gaza, Haq said, “We continue to work for them. We continue to strive to make the world hear them and see their needs.”
He also mentioned that United Nations staff are trying to perform their duties in Gaza under extremely difficult conditions.
Al-Jazeera English said, “Israel has ramped up attacks on northern Gaza, killing over 770 Palestinians in 19 days.”
On Thursday evening, dozens of Palestinians were killed and many more injured, in Israeli bombardment and shelling of a residential block in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, which has been witnessing a process of genocide and ethnic cleansing for 20 days.
Medical sources have confirmed that 150 citizens were killed and injured, including women and children, in the bombing of at least ten houses in the Al-Hoja area in central Jabalia refugee camp.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a war of genocide on the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 143,000 dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and famine that has killed dozens of children and the elderly, in one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world.
Israel continues this war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution to end it immediately, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
