Cairo, Oct 5 (NationPress) - Egypt is set to facilitate discussions between Israeli and Hamas representatives on Monday regarding the field conditions and details necessary for the exchange of all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners. This initiative is part of a recent US proposal aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, as stated by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

The Egyptian government expressed its hope that these discussions will contribute to ending the ongoing war and alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, which has persisted for two years.

These upcoming talks are a continuation of Egypt's diplomatic efforts, conducted in collaboration with other mediators, to conclude the Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism on Saturday that all Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza might be released within a matter of days, as reported by Xinhua.

“We are on the verge of a significant achievement,” Netanyahu stated in a live video address. “It’s not final yet, but I hope that during the upcoming Sukkot holiday, we will be able to secure the release of all the hostages, both living and deceased, while maintaining our military presence deep inside the Gaza Strip.” Sukkot, a week-long Jewish festival, begins on Monday evening.

However, Netanyahu emphasized that Israel aims to keep negotiations brief, stating that in the second phase of the US proposal, “Hamas will be disarmed, and the Gaza Strip will be demilitarized, whether through military action or diplomatic means.”

Far-right ministers within Netanyahu’s political-security cabinet have criticized the Prime Minister and the evolving agreement. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described Netanyahu’s decision as “a serious mistake and a sure recipe for Hamas to stall for time and deteriorate Israel’s position.”

Furthermore, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned that if Hamas remains operational after the hostages are released, his faction will withdraw from the government.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting with the two ministers to persuade them to support the agreement.

The US proposal, which Washington confirmed had Israel’s agreement, encompasses a ceasefire-for-hostages arrangement, a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and international oversight for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza post-conflict.

On Friday, Hamas announced that it had accepted the proposal in principle and is prepared to engage in mediated discussions, a move that has been positively received by the international community, which urges both parties to capitalize on this opportunity to cease hostilities and alleviate the suffering of civilians.

On Saturday, US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Egypt to discuss the finer points of the proposal, according to the White House.

Concurrently, Israeli forces have reduced their offensive operations in Gaza following a US request to halt attacks in light of Hamas’s willingness to release hostages.

According to Palestinian medical sources, the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of airstrikes on Saturday morning, targeting multiple locations within Gaza City, resulting in deaths and injuries. Health authorities reported that 66 individuals lost their lives and 265 were injured in Gaza hospitals over the past 24 hours.

Since the onset of the military campaign in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israeli actions have resulted in the deaths of 67,074 Palestinians and injuries to 169,430 others, while famine and malnutrition have claimed 459 lives in the enclave, including 154 children, according to updates from Gaza-based health officials.