Netanyahu rejects Egypt’s ceasefire proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the proposal made by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

El-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza at a joint press conference with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in Cairo on Sunday. In the proposal, he said that Israeli forces would stop operations in Gaza for two days. Hamas would release four hostages during these two days. In exchange, Israel would also release several Palestinian prisoners.

Citing Channel 12, the Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency reported that after El-Sisi made this proposal, most Israeli MPs, ministers and even the Israeli security forces supported it; only Netanyahu and a few ministers, MPs and military officials loyal to him objected.

In a brief message within hours of that Cairo press conference, Netanyahu said that peace talks in Gaza could continue, but that does not require a ceasefire. Talks will continue amid the war.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas and its allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters carried out an ambush on Israeli territory, killing 1,200 people. They also took 242 hostages in Gaza.

Israeli forces began an operation in Gaza that day to respond to the ambush and free the hostages. After the war broke out, Egypt, Qatar, and the United States—three countries—acted as mediators between the two sides.

As a result of the extensive efforts of these mediators, Hamas and Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire from November 25 to December 1. During this time, Hamas released several hostages, and Israel released about 150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange. However, at least 101 hostages still remain in Hamas’ hands.