Cairo/Jerusalem, March 25, 2025: Egypt has introduced a new ceasefire proposal aimed at restoring peace in Gaza, security sources said on Monday, as Israeli air and ground strikes reportedly killed at least 65 Palestinians in the past 24 hours. The Egyptian plan, put forward last week, follows Israel’s resumption of military operations against Hamas on March 18, ending a two-month period of relative calm after 15 months of war. According to Gaza health officials, nearly 700 Palestinians— including 400 women and children— have been killed since then.
Among those killed on Monday were two local journalists, Mohammad Mansour and Hussam Shabat, according to medics. The Palestinian Journalist Syndicate reports that 206 journalists have died in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023. Israel has not yet commented on these reports. Hamas has also confirmed the deaths of several senior political and security officials.
Later on Monday, the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered Israeli airspace. Warning sirens were activated in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other areas. The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has previously launched missiles at Israel in support of Hamas.
The Egyptian plan suggests a staggered release of Israeli hostages in exchange for a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza under U.S. guarantees. Hamas would release five Israeli hostages per week, while Israel would begin implementing the second phase of the ceasefire after one week. The plan includes a timeline for a full Israeli withdrawal.
Currently, Hamas is holding 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. The majority of the more than 250 hostages seized during Hamas’ October 7 attack have either been released or their bodies returned in previous exchanges. While both Hamas and the U.S. have reportedly agreed to the Egyptian proposal, Israel has not yet responded.
A Hamas official did not confirm specific details of the proposal but stated that several proposals were being discussed with mediators to bridge the gap and resume negotiations for the second phase of the agreement.
The Palestinian death toll from the nearly 18-month conflict has now surpassed 50,000, according to Palestinian health authorities. Israel, which launched its offensive after Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people, maintains that its military operations aim to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. The Israeli government has also questioned the casualty figures reported by Hamas-run health authorities.
In southern Gaza’s Rafah, thousands of residents are reportedly trapped without food, water, or medicine, according to local authorities. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service estimates that 50,000 civilians are currently cornered in the Tel Al-Sultan district, where Israeli forces have encircled the area, targeting Hamas positions.
The United Nations announced on Monday that it is reducing its presence in Gaza after five staff members of the UN Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA) were killed in recent attacks. UNRWA also reported that 124,000 Palestinians have been displaced in recent days, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating rapidly.
UNRWA stated on X that families are carrying what little they have with no shelter, no safety, and nowhere left to go. It further reported that Israeli authorities have cut off all aid, food is scarce, and prices are soaring, describing the situation as a humanitarian catastrophe and calling for an end to the siege.
The situation remains tense, with Egypt’s proposal representing one of the few diplomatic efforts currently underway to de-escalate the conflict.
