Editorial
Egypt is negotiating with representatives of Hamas and the group's allies Islamic Jihad. In recent days, two Egyptian proposals have been presented with the aim of reaching a definitive ceasefire with Israel. The Egyptian government seeks to use its privileged channels with Palestinian groups not only to resolve the current crisis, but also to prevent the mass exodus of Gaza civilians towards its borders, through the Rafah crossing.
The first proposal, which called for Hamas to give up control of the Gaza Strip in exchange for a permanent ceasefire, was rejected by the group. Hamas insists that only the Palestinians can decide the future of the Strip. Faced with the failure of this proposal, a second, more complex initiative was presented, which provides for a gradual ceasefire through three phases.
The first phase proposes a two-week (twenty-day) renewable truce, during which Hamas undertakes to release detained women, elderly people and minors, in exchange for prisoners released by Israel and permission for civilians to return to the northern part of Gaza. Israel would withdraw its tanks and allow humanitarian aid to enter.
In the second phase, Hamas would pledge to release all female Israeli soldiers held hostage, while Israel would release additional Palestinian prisoners. In this phase, the exchange of the corpses remaining in the hands of the two parties since 7 October, the date of the start of hostilities, is also envisaged.
The third phase, expected to last a month, involves Hamas handing over all remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. Israel would return its tanks, ending hostilities. Egypt proposes that the administration of Gaza be transitioned to a caretaker government, responsible for managing humanitarian aid, starting reconstruction and organizing new elections.
Egypt is trying to encourage the formation of a "technical government" in Gaza. Hamas, however, maintains that the future of the region is an internal issue within the Palestinian world. UN Secretary Antonio Guterres warns of the risk of the conflict widening with devastating consequences for the entire region. In the West Bank, there is a situation of low tension with sporadic episodes of friction.
In the meantime, in Iran, four prisoners accused of being from the Mossad (007 of Israel) were hanged, probably in response to the killing of the Pasdaran leader Seyed Razi Mousavi in Syria. There are also reports of airstrikes targeting eleven Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers at Damascus International Airport, although Tehran has denied the reports, branding them false.
The Mossad, meanwhile, is conducting targeted operations to identify and eliminate numerous Revolutionary Guard officers, contributing to fuel Iran's resentment.
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