Cairo, March 25, 2025 – Egypt has escalated its diplomatic efforts in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, issuing a stern warning to the terrorist group Hamas: agree to a revised ceasefire and hostage release deal or face the expulsion of recently freed palestinian terrorists currently residing in Egypt. This development, reported by The Jerusalem Post and confirmed by a senior Israeli official, underscores Egypt’s pivotal role as a mediator in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations and its growing frustration with Hamas’ intransigence.
The prisoners at the center of this ultimatum were released during the last hostage exchange as part of a fragile truce agreement that began in January 2025. Temporarily housed in Egypt due to the lack of other nations willing to accept them, these individuals now find their fate tied to Hamas’ next move. According to the Israeli official, Egypt’s threat is a direct response to pressure from the United States, which has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress in securing the release of additional hostages, including Israeli-American dual national Idan Alexander (video).
Why Egypt’s Threat Matters
Egypt’s ultimatum is more than a diplomatic flex—it’s a calculated move to break the deadlock in ceasefire talks that have faltered since the initial six-week truce took effect on January 19, 2025. That agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S., saw Hamas release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 palestinian terrorists, alongside a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, the subsequent phase—intended to secure a permanent end to the 15-month war and the release of remaining hostages—has yet to materialize, leaving mediators scrambling to maintain momentum.
The reported Egyptian pressure, driven by top intelligence officials, aims to compel Hamas to accept an updated proposal that could extend the ceasefire and pave the way for further hostage releases. “The Egyptians took all the pressure they received from the US and passed it on to Hamas – and it may have made an impact,” the senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post. This comes amid heightened U.S. involvement, with White House envoy Steve Witkoff delivering pointed messages to Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Hassan Rasahd, signaling Washington’s impatience with the stalled negotiations.
Behind the Scenes: The Proposal and U.S. Influence
While Egypt has not yet formally presented the revised deal to Israel, ongoing discussions with Hamas reveal a framework that mirrors a U.S.-backed plan tabled by Witkoff two weeks ago in Doha. The proposal includes the release of five living hostages—among them Idan Alexander—in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire and the freeing of an unspecified number of palestinian terrorists. Additional components echo earlier agreements: resuming humanitarian aid to Gaza, reopening the Netzarim corridor for Palestinian movement, and withdrawing Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) ground troops from the Gaza Strip, where hostilities resumed after the initial truce due to Hamas’s refusal to release more hostoages.
A notable addition to Egypt’s plan is the inclusion of preliminary talks on a long-term ceasefire and a roadmap for a second phase of the agreement. However, the Israeli official noted that a detailed outline for this phase remains undefined, highlighting the complexity of transitioning from temporary truces to a lasting peace. Sources familiar with the negotiations suggest that Hamas’ senior leadership will meet in the coming days to deliberate on the proposal, a decision that could determine the fate of both the ceasefire and the prisoners in Egypt.
Broader Context: Egypt’s Balancing Act
Egypt’s role as a mediator is rooted in its strategic position and historical ties to the palestinian cause, despite questions about its legitimacy. Sharing a border with Gaza via the Rafah crossing, Egypt has long facilitated humanitarian aid and prisoner exchanges, as seen in the January 2025 deal. Yet, its patience appears to be waning. The threat to expel the released Hamas terrorists reflects Cairo’s attempt to leverage its hosting of these individuals—freed during the last exchange but unwelcome elsewhere—as a bargaining chip to force Hamas’ hand.
This move also follows a pattern of increasing Egyptian assertiveness. In October 2024, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi proposed a two-day ceasefire to exchange four Israeli hostages for Hamas prisoners, a plan that foreshadowed the current 50-day proposal (PBS News, October 27, 2024). The U.S., alongside Qatar, has leaned heavily on Egypt to bridge the gap between Israel and Hamas, a dynamic complicated by Hamas’ rejection of previous short-term deals.
What’s at Stake
The stakes couldn’t be higher. For Hamas, accepting the deal could secure a return of their terrorists held by Israel. For Israel, the release of hostages like Idan Alexander—a dual national whose plight has drawn U.S. attention—remains a top priority, with 59 innocent captives still believed to be in Gaza, at least 24 of whom are believed to be alive. For Egypt, success in brokering this deal could bolster its regional influence, while failure risks straining ties with both the U.S. and Israel.
As negotiations teeter on the brink, Egypt’s ultimatum adds a new layer of urgency. Whether it will sway Hamas—or provoke a backlash—remains to be seen, but the clock is ticking for all involved.
AI Inferences and Considerations
Egypt’s threat to expel Hamas prisoners introduces a rare escalation in its mediation strategy, suggesting a shift from neutral facilitator to active pressure player. This could indicate internal frustrations within Egypt’s leadership, possibly driven by domestic economic pressures or a desire to align more closely with U.S. interests under the Trump administration. The lack of other countries willing to accept these prisoners—likely due to their activities with Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, and many other countries—underscores Egypt’s unique burden and leverage in this scenario.
Another inference is the potential impact on Hamas’ internal dynamics. The group’s leadership, considerably fractured after the death of many of its leaders, may face dissent if forced to concede under Egyptian and U.S. pressure, especially if it perceives the deal as favouring Israel. Conversely, Israel’s reluctance to fully commit until the proposal is formalized suggests a cautious approach, possibly reflecting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s need to balance a reasonable approach with the domestic hardliners who oppose any concessions to Hamas.
The emphasis on Idan Alexander also hints at a broader U.S. strategy to prioritize American citizens in hostage negotiations, a focus that could complicate multilateral talks if other nationalities are sidelined. Finally, the absence of a detailed second-phase plan raises questions about the feasibility of a long-term ceasefire, given the entrenched positions of both Israel and Hamas on issues like Gaza’s governance and IDF withdrawal.
Keywords: Egypt Hamas ceasefire, Hamas prisoner expulsion, Gaza hostage deal, Egypt mediation Israel-Hamas, Idan Alexander hostage, U.S. pressure Egypt Hamas, Gaza truce negotiations, Netzarim corridor reopening, IDF withdrawal Gaza, long-term ceasefire proposal
