Egypt proposes a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for 48 hours.

Egypt has proposed a two-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to free four hostages held in Gaza. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi noted that the proposal also includes the release of some Palestinian prisoners and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, Euronews reported. Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, acted as a mediator. This is the first time an Egyptian president has publicly proposed such a plan. Israel and Hamas have still not responded. Al-Sisi said the goal of the proposal is to “move forward” and plans are underway to continue negotiations to establish a permanent ceasefire after a two-day truce.

Eleven months passed without a ceasefire, except for a week-long pause in November when 105 hostages were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The Egyptian offer follows Israeli strikes in response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack earlier this month. The words of Iran's Supreme Leader, who said the attack must be viewed with “tolerance but not indifference,” indicate there is no call for revenge. The escalation has fueled fears of a possible all-out regional war that could pit Israel and the United States against Iran and its allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israel has launched an offensive after a nearly year-long conflict that began in Gaza.

So far there has been no response from Israel and Hamas to the ceasefire proposal from Egypt. Concerns raised about possible US involvement in a conflict with Iran and its allies call into question the future of the region and could plunge the Middle East back into chaos and war.