The United States has intensified its contacts in recent hours with leaders in the region to discuss developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, ahead of an expected response from the Islamic Resurrection Movement (Hamas) regarding the prisoner exchange deal with Israel, which is mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.

The Amiri Diwan announced that the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received a call from US President Joe Biden, during which they discussed developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the efforts of the two countries to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

For his part, the White House statement stated that Biden stressed that his country will work with Egypt and Qatar to ensure the full implementation of the terms of the agreement being worked on, and the US President and the Emir of the State of Qatar also discussed ongoing initiatives to increase the flow of aid to Gaza.

Biden expressed his thanks for the efforts of the Emir of Qatar and Qatari officials to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza, and the two parties agreed to continue close coordination directly and through the relevant teams during the coming days.

In turn, the Egyptian presidency stated that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from US President Joe Biden, during which they discussed the latest developments in efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange prisoners.

The Egyptian presidency explained that the American and Egyptian presidents stressed the danger of the military escalation in Rafah, and the Egyptian president stressed to his American counterpart the necessity of full and adequate humanitarian aid reaching Gaza.

The White House said that President Biden urged his Egyptian counterpart to make every effort to ensure the release of detainees, because it is the only issue that is an obstacle to reaching an immediate ceasefire and providing relief to civilians in Gaza.

The White House stated that Biden stressed the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring that Palestinians are not displaced to Egypt or to any other place outside the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, the US President made a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he discussed the ongoing talks aimed at releasing detainees, stressing Washington’s “firm” commitment to Israel’s security, according to the White House.

The White House indicated that "the two allies discussed the ongoing talks to ensure the release of detainees, with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza."

Deal proposals

Meanwhile, Egyptian media reported that a delegation from the Hamas movement for ceasefire talks in the Gaza Strip left the Egyptian capital, Cairo, after receiving a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, and is expected to return again with a written response to the proposal.

Hamas demands an end to the devastating Israeli war on the Gaza Strip as part of any prisoner exchange agreement, which is rejected by Israeli ministers in the government controlled by the extreme right.

Reuters quoted a source familiar with the talks as saying that Hamas is expected to respond to the latest Israeli proposal regarding a phased truce, which it submitted last Saturday.

The source stated that this includes an agreement to accept the release of less than 40 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians from Israeli prisons and a second phase of a truce that includes a “period of sustainable calm,” which is Israel’s response to Hamas’s demand for a permanent ceasefire.

After the first phase, Israel will allow freedom of movement between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip.

For his part, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron revealed - yesterday, Monday - the details of the proposed truce on the Hamas movement, in press statements made by Cameron during the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Cameron explained that the proposed truce stipulates that Hamas will release all Israeli detainees in Gaza, in exchange for a 40-day ceasefire in the Strip and the potential release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

The British Foreign Secretary described the proposed truce as a "generous Israeli offer," expressing his hope that it would be accepted by Hamas.

Cameron stressed the need to put pressure on Hamas to push it to accept the proposed truce, and said, "The war will not end until the hostages are released."