Gaza – Arab Canada News

Informed Palestinian sources revealed today, Tuesday, that Hamas is studying a new proposal submitted by mediators that includes a temporary ceasefire for a duration of 45 days, as part of international and regional efforts aimed at calming the situation in the Gaza Strip and reaching an agreement for a prisoner exchange with Israel.

According to what international media reported, the proposal includes a comprehensive cessation of military operations, a gradual release of prisoners, and allowing the entry of expanded humanitarian aid to the region, in addition to arrangements to ensure the continuation of the ceasefire after the initial truce period ends.

Sources stated that Hamas did not reject the proposal but requested clarifications and guarantees regarding its terms, particularly concerning the reconstruction of Gaza and ensuring a permanent ceasefire in later stages. The movement also expressed reservations about some formulations that could be interpreted as granting Israel a wide margin to resume operations after the end of the duration.

Escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque

In a parallel context, dozens of Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday morning under heavy protection from the occupation police, an escalation that sparked widespread Palestinian condemnation.

The Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem reported that around 120 settlers entered the mosque’s courtyards in successive groups, conducting provocative tours in the eastern area, which included silent Talmudic rituals.

The incursion coincided with calls from groups of the “alleged Temple” to gather more settlers in Al-Aqsa Mosque during the so-called “Jewish Passover,” which warns of further tension in the holy city.

Background of the Political Scene

This development comes amid increasing U.S. and European pressure on the Israeli government to accept a formula for an agreement that allows for an immediate ceasefire, amid international concerns about the widening of the war and the rising number of civilian casualties.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently stated that his administration is working with several parties to avoid a new regional explosion, noting that “the opportunity still exists for a comprehensive agreement, but time is running out.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing internal pressures from the families of prisoners who are demanding an immediate deal with Hamas, as military operations in Gaza stagnate and fears grow of a wider escalation in the north.