Istanbul: On Tuesday, Egypt firmly denied reports from Israeli media that suggested the nation proposed taking custody of Hamas' weapons as part of a postwar plan for Gaza. The reports, primarily circulated by Israeli outlets, including the state broadcaster KAN, claimed that Egypt suggested the temporary takeover of Hamas's weapons under its supervision as part of a "day after" strategy.
According to Anadolu Agency, these reports indicated a vision where Gaza would be managed by a technocratic government under the oversight of the Palestinian Authority for several years, effectively sidelining Hamas from governance. Israel has consistently demanded the disarmament of Hamas as a prerequisite for any agreement to halt its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.
However, Egypt's state-run Al-Qahera News Channel, referencing Egyptian sources, refuted the Israeli reports. It emphasized that a recent proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, which has been accepted by Hamas, calls for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Egyptian sources revealed that negotiations for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would commence on the first day the deal is implemented.
Earlier on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty highlighted the 'significant progress' made in ceasefire talks, asserting that the responsibility now lies with Israel to make the next move. On Monday, Hamas announced its acceptance of a proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar for a Gaza ceasefire, though details of the proposal were not disclosed.
KAN, Israel's public broadcaster, citing unnamed sources, reported that the new proposal closely aligns with a plan originally put forth by US envoy Steve Witkoff. This plan involves the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and subsequent negotiations to conclude the conflict.
As per Egyptian media, the proposal suggests repositioning Israeli forces near the border to enable humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and a temporary cessation of military activities for two months to facilitate a prisoner-hostage exchange. Israel estimates that 50 of its citizens are in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. In contrast, over 10,800 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, where rights groups allege they face torture, hunger, and medical neglect, leading to numerous deaths.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in the deaths of nearly 62,100 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023, while the military campaign has left the enclave devastated and on the brink of famine. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is contending with a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.