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New talks between Israel and Egypt on Gaza ceasefire and hostage release

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Exchange of drafts between the parties: the aim is to overcome the differences between the Egyptian plan and the US proposal. Possible release of hostages in exchange for a temporary truce. Meanwhile, Israeli raids continue and the health emergency in the Strip grows.

Israel and Egypt have begun exchanging drafts for a possible ceasefire agreement and release of hostages held by Hamas. This was reported by Israeli radio Kan, emphasising that the aim is to bridge the gap between the Egyptian proposal and that of US special envoy Steve Witkoff.

According to Israeli sources, negotiations have progressed and ‘an agreement could be reached soon’. The Egyptian plan, which has emerged in recent days, envisages a truce lasting between 40 and 70 days, the release of eight live hostages and the bodies of eight others in exchange for the release of several Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal put forward by the United States last month, which included the release of five hostages and a two-month ceasefire, again in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, is different.

Meanwhile, the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues. At least ten people, including three minors and two women, died in a raid that hit a house in the Katiba area of Khan Younis. Another eight civilians were killed in an attack in Sheikh Nasser, also east of Khan Younis. The Rafah area and the al-Atatra neighbourhood in Beit Lahiya were also hit, with at least two casualties.

The humanitarian crisis in the Strip continues to worsen. The Gaza Ministry of Health has issued an urgent appeal: 37% of essential medicines and 59% of medical supplies are exhausted. Operating theatres and emergency departments are operating with minimal supplies, while tens of thousands of chronic patients have no access to treatment.

The Hamas-controlled ministry denounced the blockade imposed by Israel on the entry of medicines and equipment, underlining the serious consequences for the population, especially for the approximately 60,000 children suffering from malnutrition.

Israel denies the lack of aid and claims that more than 25,000 truckloads of essential goods entered in the 42 days of truce prior to the resumption of bombing (which took place on 18 March). However, the UN and various NGOs dispute these numbers. UN Secretary General António Guterres described the situation in Gaza as ‘an extermination camp’, where the civilian population is trapped in ‘an endless cycle of death’.

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