Egypt Presents Comprehensive Plan to Halt Israel-Hamas Conflict; Israeli Strike Death Toll Rises to 106

The Egypt-Qatar proposal aims to establish a ceasefire, facilitate a phased release of hostages, and create a Palestinian government to oversee Gaza and the West Bank. This initiative was presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States, and European governments, but it’s still considered preliminary.

The proposal includes a ceasefire period during which Palestinian militants would release 40-50 hostages, including women, the sick, and elderly, in exchange for the release of 120-150 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.

The long-term objectives include extending the ceasefire, releasing more hostages, and establishing a government of experts to rule Gaza and the West Bank. This aims to facilitate a transitional period for Palestinian factions to resolve disputes and prepare for presidential and parliamentary elections.

Israel’s War Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has planned discussions on the hostage situation and other topics but has not explicitly stated if they will consider the Egyptian proposal.

The Israeli airstrikes have resulted in significant devastation in Gaza, with a high civilian death toll. There have been widespread reports of buildings being destroyed, including in the Maghazi refugee camp, leading to a high number of casualties.