Egypt Proposes Most Detailed Gaza Peace Plan To Date As Netanyahu Presses On
Egypt has presented a comprehensive plan for a ceasefire and post-war situation in Gaza, which includes the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the region and the establishment of a new technocratic government in both Gaza and the West Bank. The proposal, hailed as the most detailed to date, outlines a multi-stage plan for the cessation of hostilities and the eventual unified governance of Gaza.
Under the proposed plan, the first stage would involve the release of all civilian captives held in Gaza by Hamas and armed Palestinian groups. In exchange, a negotiated number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons would be freed. This initial exchange would be followed by a truce and a period of seven to 10 days without fighting.
In the second stage, Hamas would release all female Israeli soldiers currently held captive, while Israel would release additional Palestinian prisoners. Another week-long pause in fighting would be observed during this stage.
The final stage of the proposal would involve a final exchange of captives. Hamas would release the remaining captives while Israel would release more detained Palestinians. This phase would be preceded by a month of negotiations and would see Israel withdrawing its forces to the Gaza border and ceasing all aerial campaigns on the Strip. Hamas would also commit to refraining from armed actions against Israel.
The proposal, presented to Israel, Hamas, and the US on Monday, also includes plans for Egypt, Doha, and Washington to engage in negotiations to create a technocratic government that would oversee both Gaza and the West Bank.
Despite the detailed nature of the plan, it is unlikely to gain traction from the warring parties. Israel’s war cabinet was expected to discuss the proposal, but it is unlikely to accept it in its entirety. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the military campaign on Gaza, with the goal of eliminating Hamas.
Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad have rejected the proposal, particularly the idea of relinquishing their power in Gaza, according to several Egyptian officials. This rejection comes as the death toll in Israel’s war on Gaza continues to rise. At the time of writing, more than 20,000 Palestinians, including over 8,000 children, have been killed. Additionally, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been wounded by Israeli attacks.
The devastating impact of the conflict is further evident with the death toll from Israel’s attack on the Maghazi refugee camp reaching 106. Survivors described the bombed house as full of displaced civilians and disabled people.
As the situation worsens, Israel dropped leaflets instructing residents of Khan Younis to move to Rafah neighborhoods, creating further anxiety and confusion as Palestinians in Gaza are forcibly displaced multiple times.
In a regional escalation, an Israeli airstrike near Damascus, Syria, killed a senior adviser in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Iran has denounced the assassination, and its president warned that Israel would pay for the crime.
While pro-Palestine activists in the US have organized demonstrations calling for a ceasefire, Pope Francis also made a plea for an end to the war on Gaza in his Christmas message.
The detailed proposal from Egypt signifies a significant effort to achieve a lasting ceasefire and lay the groundwork for a future technocratic government in Gaza. However, with strong resistance from both Israel and Hamas, the realization of this plan remains uncertain as the death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza continue to escalate.
