Netanyahu Refuses Short-term Gaza Ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Egypt’s offer for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Gaza, as reported by Israeli state television KAN and Channel 12. Despite the support from most ministers in the Israeli government, Netanyahu opposed the proposal, insisting that prisoner exchange talks will only continue while attacks on Gaza persist.
Egyptian President Sisi had proposed a two-day ceasefire initiative to exchange 4 Israeli prisoners and some Palestinians detained in Gaza. Sisi stated that negotiations would be held in the next 10 days to potentially turn the temporary ceasefire into a permanent one.
The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas’s armed wing launched attacks on Israel in response to continuous violations against Palestinians, particularly targeting the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Israel reported significant casualties, with 1,200 Israelis killed and over 5,000 injured. In retaliation, Israeli attacks on Gaza claimed the lives of nearly 43,000 Palestinians, including a high number of children and women, and left over 100,000 injured.
Despite a brief “humanitarian pause” in the conflict in November 2023, which saw the release of some prisoners on both sides, the situation remains dire. Thousands of Palestinians are still detained by Israel, and the violence has extended to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, resulting in further casualties among Palestinians.
As the conflict continues unabated, the rejection of Egypt’s ceasefire proposal by Netanyahu raises concerns about the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the longstanding tensions in the region. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming days.
