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Cairo and Doha are currently engaged in diplomatic moves to urge Hamas to agree to Donald Trump's proposal to stop the hostilities in the Gaza Strip, according to the Egyptian foreign minister.

Growing Pressure on Hamas

Badr Abdelatty emphasized that the time had come for Hamas to lay down its weapons and refrain from offering Israeli forces any pretext to continue its offensive in Gaza, where numerous civilians were fatally struck on Friday.

“Let’s not give any excuse for one party to use Hamas as a pretext for this mad daily killings of civilians. What’s happening is far beyond the 7th of October,” the minister remarked.

The diplomat added that Egypt is “in close contact with Qatar and Turkey to persuade Hamas to agree to the terms”.

Key Points of the US Initiative

The plan would demand Hamas to:

• Surrender weapons and exit politics
• Hand over the captives in custody from the 2023 attack, 20 of whom are presumed to be still alive

As part of the deal, Israeli authorities would:

• Pull back its forces from Gaza
• Be replaced by an global peacekeeping unit
• Accept a transitional authority under Trump

Most analysts believe that the initiative would spell an end to Hamas’s identity as an militant organization, while the Israeli side would offer limited compromises.

Split Opinions within Hamas

The organization is at odds over the appropriate answer, with some members seeking additional time to evaluate the proposal.

The head of Hamas’s military wing has opposed the proposal, viewing it as a move to eradicate the group whether or not they agree.

Those familiar with the matter suggest that the faction is likely to propose amendments regarding:

• The requirement to lay down arms
• Remaining troops of soldiers in Gaza
• Safeguards that the top officials will not be attacked

Civilian Suffering Worsens

Israeli forces persisted in its offensive in Gaza City and shelling across the wider strip on Friday, killing numerous civilians.

Nearly a dozen of the victims were in Gaza City, while the remaining died in southern Gaza, including three in an unmanned aircraft attack in al-Masawi, which had been earlier labeled a secure area.

Israel issued its final warning for Gaza City on earlier this week, with the top defense official stating that anyone remaining would be deemed affiliated with armed groups, a label that contradicts global norms.

Numerous of civilians remain unable to leave in the urban area, many of whom who cannot afford the evacuation to the south, which is said to cost more than $1,000.

“Numerous civilians are stranded on roadsides, awaiting shelter,” said a Red Cross spokesperson.

United Nations agencies reported that there is no safe place for people fleeing the city, as zones labeled as protected spaces in the south are dangerous.

A UNICEF spokesperson labeled the concept of protected spaces as “farcical”, adding that explosives are launched with alarming regularity and shelters designated as refuges are regularly reduced to rubble.

Healthcare System under Extreme Pressure

Hospitals in the south are operating beyond capacity, with the Red Cross field hospital accommodating over twice its intended capacity.

On Thursday, one of the last functioning hospitals admitted the remains of 27 individuals of people killed by the forces.

Dr Ahmad al-Farra characterized the conditions as “extremely difficult”.

Israeli forces has been alleged to be attacking hospitals and medical workers, with medical staff reportedly “abducted” while on duty in a southern city.

Israel has previously claimed that arrested medical officials had connections to Hamas, though offering no substantiation.

Fatalities from the conflict in the strip has amounted to over 62,000 civilians fatally injured and nearly 170,000 injured, per the Gaza health authority.