An Egyptian security delegation is expected to travel to Tel Aviv in the coming hours to negotiate a prisoner swap and a ceasefire in Gaza.
According to Al-Akhbar, Cairo officials are heading to Israel to present a comprehensive plan for a potential deal, buoyed by the optimism stemming from the recent Lebanon ceasefire.
The plan reportedly includes an initial ceasefire lasting one or two months, followed by the gradual release of hostages. Simultaneously, it envisions broader and more protracted negotiations, free from military pressure on the ground.
Once the ceasefire takes effect, Egyptian authorities will demand that Hamas provide a list of living hostages within a set deadline.
The plan also calls for the swift reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, to be supervised by the Palestinian Authority under Egyptian control.
Israel will have a veto over people crossing into Egypt, and Cairo will ensure that Hamas does not control the crossing or Gaza during this period.
Khalil al-Hayyeh, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, told Al-Aqsa TV last week that Palestinians had accepted Egypt’s proposal to establish a committee for Gaza administration, provided it remains locally managed.
The agreement also includes provisions for increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and the entry of medicine for hostages in need.
Additionally, Israel will be permitted to maintain its military presence in Gaza but will not conduct any operations during this period.
It is assumed, though not explicitly stated, that the possible agreement will involve the release of Palestinian prisoners.
