Ball in Israel’s court after Palestinians agree to Egyptian-Qatari proposal: SIS

CAIRO - 18 August 2025: Head of the State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan said Monday that there are enormous Egyptian efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Egyptian and Qatari mediators drafted a new proposal based on Steve Witkoff’s, to which Palestinian factions have responded to without any reservations, according to Rashwan. 

The ball is in Israel’s court after the Egyptian and Qatari mediators sent the proposal thereto, he said. 

Rashwan said he hopes Israel finds in the proposal an exit for itself from the internal pressure to end the war.

Israel now has an open chance to step away from unrealistic goals, he added. 

Head of SIS explained that Israel faces internal divisions and pressures, and this proposal is an opportunity before Netanyahu’s government. 

If Israel agreed on the proposal, it might as well be a prelude to a comprehensive solution.

There needs be U.S. pressure on Israel to accept the proposal in preparation for the comprehensive solution, Rashwan concluded.