Hamas leader Ismail Haniya is in Egypt today to consider a proposal for a six-week ceasefire, a source told AFP, as fighting and Israeli shelling continue in the Gaza Strip.

This is a three stage design which will begin with an initial six-week ceasefire to allow more aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip.

Only “women, children and sick men over 60” held by Gaza militants will be released during this stage in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

There will also be “negotiations around the withdrawal of Israeli forces,” with possible additional phases involving more hostage-prisoner exchanges, the source said, adding that rebuilding the area was also among the issues under consideration in the deal.

What does the plan include?

During the truce, Israel will have to release between 200 and 300 Palestinian prisoners who are not held under a high-security regime in exchange for the release of 35-40 hostages held in Gaza, a source close to Hamas said. Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

Only “women, children and male patients over the age of 60” detained in Gaza will be able to be released, this source told AFP on condition of anonymity. Between 200 and 300 humanitarian aid trucks could also enter the Gaza Strip each day.

“The first step involves negotiations aimed at the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the return of displaced persons to the northern part of the Gaza Strip,” this source clarified.

Hamas is demanding a full ceasefire as a condition for any deal, particularly on the release of Israeli hostages. For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned yesterday that Israel would not release “thousands of Palestinian terrorists” in exchange for the release of hostages in Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal.

If the initial ceasefire is held, a second step calls for the release of “reserve soldiers” held in Gaza in exchange for the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.

Non-reserve soldiers could also be released, according to this source, also in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The final phase concerns the exchange of the bodies of people who have been killed and an agreement related to the control of Gaza border checkpoints and the reconstruction of the Palestinian territories.

All-night Israeli airstrikes

Overnight, witnesses reported several Israeli airstrikes hitting the city, while aid and health workers have reported heavy fighting for days, particularly around two hospitals.

According to the Hamas health ministry in Gaza, 119 people were killed in the last night of the raids.

“There is a massacre going on right now,” said Leo Kans, head of the international NGO Doctors Without Borders’ mission for the Palestinian Territories.

“Due to restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid, the population is ‘starving to death,'” World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said on Wednesday.

“The citizens of Gaza are not parties to this conflict and should be protected, as should their health facilities,” he added.