CAIRO, Egypt: Negotiators from Hamas have received a new ceasefire proposal in Cairo, a Palestinian official said on Monday, as Qatar’s prime minister arrived in Egypt to advance peace efforts.
Despite ongoing mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, efforts to reach a lasting ceasefire in the conflict have so far fallen short. The war, now stretching beyond 22 months, has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza death toll
More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry has said.
At least 60 people were killed in the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll since October 7, 2023, to 62,004.
Another 156,230 have been wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza says, adding that 1,965 people were killed while seeking aid from aid convoys or killed close to aid distribution sites.
At least seven Palestinians were killed attempting to access aid on Monday morning.
A Palestinian official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that the latest proposal from mediators “is a framework agreement to launch negotiations on a permanent ceasefire”, calling for an initial 60-day truce and hostage release in two batches.
The official said that “Hamas will hold internal consultations among its leadership” and with leaders of other Palestinian factions to review the text.
During a visit to the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Monday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had arrived to “strengthen our joint efforts and apply maximum pressure on both sides to reach an agreement as quickly as possible.”
Highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis facing the over two million residents of the Gaza Strip—where UN agencies and aid organisations have warned of looming famine—Abdelatty emphasised the critical need for an immediate resolution.
Interim committee to govern Gaza
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has announced that an interim committee will be established to govern Gaza once a ceasefire is in place.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Mustafa said, “The Gaza Management Committee, which will be announced soon, will function as an interim body operating under the authority of the Palestinian government.”
He emphasised that “Gaza is an integral part of our state, and our government is the sole executive authority responsible for managing its affairs.”
Mustafa also asserted that the ongoing Israeli offensive does not grant any local or international entity the legitimacy to impose alternative governance structures on the territory.
