Al-Sisi added in a joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune during his visit to Egypt, “Egypt During the past few days, it has made an effort to launch an initiative aimed at moving the situation and halting the fire for two days, during which 4 hostages will be exchanged for prisoners.
Al-Sisi continued, “Then, within 10 days, negotiations will be made to complete the procedures in the Gaza Strip, leading to a complete ceasefire.”
The Egyptian President reiterated Egypt’s rejection of “an attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza out of the Gaza Strip, because it is not in the interest of the Palestinian cause, and we are playing a role to stop the fire in light of the great destruction to which the Gaza Strip is being exposed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed his welcome of Egypt’s readiness to push for an agreement to release the hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Last Thursday, Hamas expressed its “readiness” for a ceasefire in Gaza StripAccording to what a movement official told Agence France-Presse.
The official stressed that “Hamas has shown readiness for a ceasefire, but what is required is Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire, withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the return of the displaced, and a serious deal to exchange prisoners and bring in aid.”
Since the failure of the previous round of talks, Israel has expanded its attacks on the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, and also killed the leader of Hamas Yahya Al-Sanwar.
It is believed that Hamas is holding about 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip, about half of whom are still alive, according to Israeli estimates.