Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi announced Sunday a proposed Gaza cease-fire aimed at facilitating an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
This proposal, designed to promote a longer-term truce, was presented during a joint press conference with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Cairo.
“We proposed a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for two days to exchange four hostages (Israeli) for some prisoners (Palestinian), and then negotiations will take place over ten days to turn the cease-fire into a permanent truce,” Al-Sisi stated.
Tebboune expressed strong support for Egypt’s initiative, emphasizing Algeria’s backing for Egypt’s efforts to establish stability in the conflict-ridden region.
Currently, Israel estimates that about 101 of its citizens remain held captive by Hamas in Gaza.
Concerns persist that some captives may have died due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes across the densely populated territory.
Efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to broker a cease-fire and facilitate a prisoner swap have so far been unsuccessful.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thus far refused to consider a cease-fire.
The Israeli military has continued its offensive on Gaza, launched after a Hamas attack last year.
This escalation has occurred despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
Local health authorities report that nearly 43,000 people have died in the conflict, mostly women and children, with over 100,000 others injured.
Widespread displacement, food shortages, and limited access to clean water and medicine compound the humanitarian crisis.