Egypt has put forward a proposal for a preliminary two-day ceasefire in Gaza, aimed at facilitating the exchange of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas for a number of Palestinian prisoners, as stated by the Egyptian president on Sunday. This announcement comes in the wake of Israeli military operations that resulted in the deaths of 45 Palestinians throughout the region.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Egyptian leader, made this declaration during a press conference in Cairo, where he was joined by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He emphasized that discussions should recommence within ten days following the implementation of the temporary ceasefire, with the goal of establishing a lasting peace.

While there has been no immediate response from either Israel or Hamas, a Palestinian official involved in the mediation process indicated to Reuters that there is an expectation for Hamas to consider the new proposals. However, he noted that Hamas remains firm in its stance that any agreement must lead to the cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Israel has stated that the conflict will not conclude until Hamas is completely eliminated as both a military force and a governing authority in Gaza.

The United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been leading efforts to negotiate an end to the hostilities that began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7 of last year, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.

Gaza health officials report that the death toll from Israel’s retaliatory air and ground operations in Gaza is nearing 43,000, leaving the densely populated region devastated.

An official familiar with the discussions informed Reuters on Sunday that the negotiations in Doha aim to establish a short-term ceasefire and facilitate the release of some hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The goal, which has remained elusive despite numerous mediation efforts, is to achieve an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cessation of hostilities lasting less than a month, with the hope that this could pave the way for a more lasting ceasefire.

On Sunday, at least 43 individuals killed in Gaza were reported from the northern part of the enclave, where Israeli forces have returned to eliminate Hamas fighters, who are believed to have regrouped in that area.

Severe Conditions in Northern Gaza

The United Nations has described the situation faced by Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza as “severe,” emphasizing that the ongoing conflict is being conducted with minimal consideration for international humanitarian law.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is deeply troubled by the alarming levels of casualties, injuries, and destruction in the region. Civilians are reportedly trapped under debris, while the sick and injured are deprived of essential medical care. Families are struggling with a lack of food and shelter, and there are distressing accounts of family separations and numerous detentions.

Dujarric highlighted that Israeli authorities are obstructing the delivery of vital food, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies, endangering lives in the process. The extensive damage and lack of resources caused by Israeli military actions in the north have rendered life there increasingly untenable.

Israel maintains that its military operations comply with international law, asserting that it targets Hamas members who allegedly hide among civilians, a claim that Hamas disputes. Furthermore, Israel denies obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza, attributing distribution issues to international organizations and accusing Hamas of misappropriating aid intended for the population.

Jabalia under scrutiny

On Sunday, an airstrike in Jabalia resulted in the deaths of 20 individuals, according to medics and the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Jabalia, the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight historic refugee camps, has been the target of an Israeli military operation for over three weeks. In a separate incident, another Israeli airstrike hit a school in the Shati camp, which was providing shelter to displaced Palestinian families, killing nine and injuring 20, with several in critical condition, as reported by medical personnel.

Videos shared on Palestinian media, which Reuters has not yet verified, depicted individuals rushing to the site of the bombing to assist in evacuating the injured. The footage showed bodies strewn across the ground, while some people carried wounded children to vehicles for transport. The Israeli military stated it is investigating the reports regarding the school strike.

Among those who lost their lives in the Shati school attack were three local journalists: Saed Radwan, the head of digital media at Hamas Al-Aqsa television, along with Hanin Baroud and Hamza Abu Selmeya, as reported by Hamas media.

On the same day, the Israeli military announced that it had eliminated over 40 militants in the Jabalia region within the last 24 hours, in addition to dismantling infrastructure and discovering significant amounts of military equipment. According to the Gaza health ministry, Israeli military actions in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya have resulted in approximately 800 fatalities during the ongoing three-week offensive.