Qatar and Egypt Propose Long-Term Truce and Prisoner Swap Deal to End Gaza War

Watan-Qatari and Egyptian mediators have presented a new proposal that includes a long-term truce in the Gaza Strip lasting between five to seven years, and a prisoner exchange deal in which Hamas would release all Israeli captives in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners. This was reported on Tuesday by the BBC, citing a senior Palestinian official familiar with the Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

According to the official, the proposal includes an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from the devastated Strip. He noted that Hamas has expressed its readiness to hand over Gaza’s administration to any Palestinian entity agreed upon “at both the national and regional levels,” adding that this entity could be the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank or an administrative body to be formed.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, is visiting Washington on Tuesday to hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Weitekamp, during which developments in the Strip are expected to be discussed, according to U.S. website Axios.

Israeli Delegation in Cairo Amid Hopes for Breakthrough in Captive Talks

An informed Egyptian source revealed that an Israeli delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday evening. On Monday, the delegation held meetings with the Egyptian mediation team from the General Intelligence Directorate, showing particular interest in specific individuals among the Israeli captives. According to the source, the visit may have been prompted by U.S. pressure related to captives holding American citizenship. The source also anticipated a potential breakthrough in the coming days, noting that American diplomatic efforts to secure the captives’ release align with the increasing field challenges facing the Israeli military following its operations in residential areas of the Gaza Strip.

Last Thursday, Hamas leader in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, stated in a recorded speech that the movement is ready to begin comprehensive negotiations involving the release of all captives in Hamas’ custody and an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for a complete halt to the war, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the start of reconstruction, and the lifting of the blockade. A high-level Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo for consultations.

The ceasefire agreement reached in January collapsed after Israel resumed its war on Gaza on March 18. The devastating war Israel has waged on the Strip since October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of more than 51,000 Palestinians and the injury of around 117,000 others, the majority of whom are women and children.