Situation at a glance: Egypt proposes a ceasefire in the Gaza war

As the Gaza war continues unabated, international mediators are once again seeking a ceasefire. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said at a news conference in Cairo that his country had proposed a two-day ceasefire during which four Israeli hostages would be exchanged for several Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli parliament is voting today on two controversial bills that are intended to massively restrict the work of the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA). The aim of the project is to classify UNRWA as a terrorist organization and to prohibit authorities in Israel from having contact with the organization in the future.

Criticism of the planned UNRWA ban

Seven Western countries reacted with “deep concern” to the Israeli parliament’s legislative plans. In a statement, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea “strongly” called on the Israeli government to comply with its international obligations, to preserve the prerogatives of UNRWA and to provide humanitarian aid and basic services to the people to enable the civilian population.

Israel has repeatedly made allegations against UNRWA in the past. According to this, several employees of the organization were involved in the massacre on October 7, 2023 and the organization as a whole was infiltrated by Hamas. In their statement, the ministers emphasized that UNRWA had taken steps to dispel allegations of support for terrorist organizations by individual employees. Meanwhile, members of the Israeli government and the opposition want to ban the aid agency’s work on Israeli territory.

Egypt presents new proposal for Gaza deal

Meanwhile, efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza continue. The Egyptian proposal is intended as a precursor to a permanent ceasefire and also includes the delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip, Egypt’s president said, according to the state news website Al-Ahram. According to Israeli media, Israel’s negotiators presented the proposal to its own security cabinet last week.

Most ministers and all security chiefs present supported the idea, it was said. However, the ultra-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and the equally right-wing Police Minister Itamar Ben Gvir spoke out against it. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not put the proposal to a vote, it said. Both ministers have repeatedly rejected concessions to the Islamist Hamas.

Israel’s leadership is exploring the possibility of a limited deal to restart talks on a comprehensive agreement, wrote the Times of Israel. They want to understand Hamas’ decision-making process after the killing of its boss Jihia al-Sinwar almost two weeks ago. Since Sinwar’s death, there has been increasing hope that an agreement could possibly be achieved. Negotiations have been stalled for months.

Reports: Hamas calls for an immediate end to the war

In Israel, Arab media reports cited that Hamas wants to present negotiators with a comprehensive agreement to immediately end the war. This provides for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the immediate release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, it said.

According to the Times of Israel, the Egyptian proposal for an initial two-day ceasefire includes ten days of further negotiations after the four hostages are released. The initiative coincides with the newly started indirect negotiations on a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages and prisoners in the Gulf emirate of Qatar. Along with the USA and Qatar, Egypt is one of the mediators in the talks.

War in Lebanon continues

Meanwhile, Israel’s war against the Hamas-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon continues. According to local authorities, at least 21 people were killed in Israeli air strikes in the south of the neighboring country during the day. Since fighting broke out between the Iranian-backed militia and the Israeli military more than a year ago, a total of at least 2,672 people have been killed and 12,468 others wounded, the Health Ministry in Beirut said.

The number of rescue workers and health workers killed in Israeli strikes has risen to 168, it said. 275 other rescuers and employees were injured. The information cannot be independently verified.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah continued to shell Israel. During the day, around 90 projectiles were fired by the militia at the Jewish state, the Israeli army said late in the evening. This information could not initially be verified.

Israel’s army: Only part of our potential used in Iran

Israel’s military claims to have only used a small part of its capacity in the latest attack on targets in Iran. “We can do much more,” said Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi at a briefing at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv. “We directed strikes at strategic systems in Iran and we are prepared for all scenarios in all theaters,” he was quoted as saying in an Israel Defense Forces statement.

Israel attacked air defense systems, military bases and missile factories in several areas of Iran in several waves on Saturday. The retaliatory strike was in response to an Iranian attack on October 1 in which around 200 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. “Our message is very, very clear,” Halevi said. Israel will confront any threat, wherever and whenever it arises.