Egypt opposes the proposal to deploy international or Arab forces in Gaza as part of a ceasefire, instead promoting a technocratic committee under the Palestinian Authority, Al-Akhbar reported on Tuesday. A source said, "Cairo sees the proposals to send foreign or Arab forces to Gaza as nothing but an attempt to impose a reality on the ground, which will harm its influence on the Palestinian issue." The source added, "Egypt, with Qatar's support, is pushing for a community support committee under Palestinian Authority supervision to manage Gaza after the war ends." The source further noted, "Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa will work to announce this committee in the coming days, in response to Egyptian pressure."
Hamas officially announced on Monday its acceptance of the mediators' proposal for a hostage deal and ceasefire. The statement was brief, noting that Hamas, along with other Palestinian terror groups, responded positively to the Egyptian-Qatari proposal. This followed a meeting in Cairo with Palestinian delegations, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Democratic Front, and a representative of Mohammed Dahlan's faction, who met with Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al-Thani.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations and the proposal's details, as reported by Al-Akhbar, a newspaper considered close to Hamas, the proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire, a two-phase Israeli withdrawal (initially up to 1,000 meters from the border in the north and east of the strip), the release of ten living hostages, the transfer of 18 bodies, and in return, the release of 140 terrorists serving life sentences and 60 others with sentences exceeding 15 years, as well as the release of all minor and female terrorists. It also includes extensive aid delivery through the UN and Red Cross.
The proposal also initiates negotiations to end the war immediately upon the temporary ceasefire's activation and discusses establishing a temporary administrative committee in Gaza. However, Arab and international suggestions to deploy foreign or Arab forces were rejected by Egypt. An Egyptian source said, "Cairo does not see the proposals to send foreign or Arab forces to Gaza as anything but an attempt to impose a reality on the ground, which would harm its influence on the Palestinian issue." The source added that Egypt, with Qatar's support, is pushing for a community support committee under Palestinian Authority supervision to manage Gaza post-war. The source further noted that Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa will work to announce this committee in the coming days, responding to Egyptian pressure.
A source also provided details to Palestinian media about the redeployment of Israeli forces under the mediators' proposal, specifying a range of approximately 750–1,000 meters across various Gaza areas. Several issues were deferred for discussion during the 60-day ceasefire, including Gaza's weapons, the presence of international or Arab forces, Gaza's governance, and ending the war. The source claimed that any potential disputes are limited to the names of Palestinian prisoners to be released. Hamas officials emphasized that this issue "will not be an obstacle."
