Israel presented a proposal to Hamas via Qatar for a ceasefire of at least a week in exchange for the release of 40 Israeli prisoners, the Israeli Walla website reported, citing a Western source familiar with Israeli politicians and negotiations.

Sky News Arabia learned from informed Egyptian sources that a group of Hamas, including Ismail Haniyeh, head of the movement’s political bureau, and Khaled Meshaal, the movement’s head abroad, will visit Egypt on Thursday to hold talks with the head of the general. Intelligence and senior Egyptian officials discuss the ceasefire and prisoner files.

According to the sources, this includes a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of prisoners from the leaders of the Qassam Brigades on the Israeli side, the release of all prisoners, the return of military vehicles to the borders of the Gaza Strip and the future of the Strip within the framework of a unified Palestinian Authority.

US news site Axios reported that CIA Director William Burns held talks with Israeli intelligence director David Barnia and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in Europe with a view to holding new talks. About the hostages.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed that he had “twice sent the director of Mossad to Europe to encourage the release of our hostages.”

Netanyahu said in a statement, “I will not make any effort in this matter. Our duty is to restore them all.”

Egypt and Qatar brokered an eight-day ceasefire in late November, during which 80 Israeli hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli custody.

War broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7 as a result of an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel from the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of approximately 1,140 people, most of them civilians. On the first day, according to an Agence France-Presse census based on the latest figures released by Israeli authorities.

According to Israeli officials, about 250 hostages were taken to the Gaza Strip, 129 of whom are still being held in Gaza.

Israel responded to the worst attack in its history with air and ground operations on Gaza, and vowed to eliminate Hamas.

According to the latest count, announced by the Hamas government on Tuesday, 19,667 people were killed in Israeli bombings.