Egypt proposes new ceasefire deal between Israel, Hamas

The new ceasefire proposal calls for the release of five living hostages, security officials said Monday. The deal also would include a pause in fighting for several weeks. Israel would be required to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israel resumed air and ground operations against Hamas on March 18, after about two months of relative peace, when negotiations with Hamas broke down.

How is the United States involved in peace talks? Both the United States and Hamas agreed to Egypt’s new proposal, but Israel had not yet responded, other officials told Reuters on Monday.

Hamas is also mulling a similar proposal put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, a Hamas spokesman said over the weekend. However, the Israeli prime minister’s office said last week that Hamas refused to release hostages and shot down mediation proposals from Witkoff and others. Hamas was privately adding unreasonable demands to its public offers to release hostages, Witkoff said recently.

What’s the latest report from Gaza’s health ministry? The Hamas-controlled health ministry said on Sunday that more than 50,000 Gazans had been killed since the beginning of the war. The ministry also reportedly said 39 people had died since Israel resumed fighting. The figures do not distinguish between Hamas fighters and noncombatants.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday said Israel was following the requirements of international law and asking civilians to evacuate. He said Hamas strategies often involve civilians, putting them in harm’s way. Katz said Israel will not stop fighting until the last Oct. 7 hostages are brought home and Hamas no longer controls the Gaza Strip.