What Egypt’s peace plan says for the end of the war in Gaza and the release of all hostages

Egyptthe great mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has proposed an ambitious three-phase peace plan to end the war in Loop began on October 7, after a bloody attack by the Palestinian militia Hamas in the territory of Israel.

The plan proposed on Sunday raises the gradual release of hostages and the formation of a Palestinian government of experts to administer Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

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It should be noted that since 2007 Hamas governs Loopwhile West Bank is under the control of the Palestinian National Authority.

An Egyptian official who spoke on condition of anonymity told the AP that while they were still working out the details with Qatarthe other mediator, presented the plan to Israelto Hamasto USA and the governments of Europe.

During the current conflict, Egypt and Qatar They have mediated with Israel and Hamas to achieve a truce, while the United States has accompanied those efforts as the Israelis’ closest ally.

Although both Israel and Hamas, as well as the United States, received the proposal coldly, it is a first step aimed at complete peace in Gaza.

Until Tuesday, Hamas had not given an official response to the proposal. It is only known that the militia delegation, headed by Ismail Haniyeleft Cairo at the weekend heading to Qatarwhere he has his political office, to study the plan.

For its part, the Islamic Jihadthe other Palestinian militia holding Israeli hostages, reiterated on Sunday that it would not accept any exchange of hostages without a prior cessation of hostilities against the Gaza Strip.

The UN assured this Tuesday that the situation in Gaza

is “terrifying” and that a ceasefire is imposed to address the “enormous needs” of a population that is forced to survive without humanitarian aid.

On the side of Israel There were also no signs of compliance with the plan. The war cabinet Israel met on Monday and, among other topics, were expected to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the release of the hostages, an Israeli official told CNN. But it was not reported if the proposal was discussed. Egypt.

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an article published by The Wall Street Journal that There will only be peace in Gaza when three requirements pursued by its army are met: the destruction of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the “deradicalization” of Palestinian society.

The White House has not made an official statement about the plan Egyptbut a source told the AP that although it is considered a positive sign, Washington remains skeptical that it will result in significant progress.

Almost 21,000 dead in Gaza

On October 7th, Hamas carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians. That day, the Islamists also kidnapped some 240 people, of whom 129 remain captive in Loop.

In response, Israel promised to “annihilate” Hamas and from that same October 7 it began to bomb Loop. As of Tuesday, the Israeli retaliation left 20,915 dead, most of them women and children, and 54,918 injured.

While since October 27, when Israel launched its ground operation in Loopmore than 150 Israeli soldiers have died in combat.

What does Egypt’s peace plan consist of?

How he explains it cnnin the first phase the plan is expected to Israel halt its military operations for a week or two so that Hamas release 40 or 50 hostages, including women and the elderly. This in exchange for the release of between 120 and 150 Palestinian prisoners who are in Israeli prisons.

“During that period, they must cease hostilities and enter the Gaza Strip food and medical aid, fuel and gas for cooking,” various sources detailed to the EFE agency.

The second phase of the plan Egypt includes an agreement for the exchange of bodies of militants Hamas in power of Israel by the bodies of Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militia. Israeli officials estimate that at least 20 of the hostages have died in captivity. In this phase, talks would also continue to extend the initial truce.

The third phase of the plan “includes an ‘all for all’ agreement,” he told CNN. This means that Israel would return the 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages—including soldiers—who Hamas kept in captivity.

This third phase includes the end of the warthe withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their areas in the Strip and the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza who will not be affiliated with Hamas and that it will obtain the support of the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

Nearly 1.9 million Gazans,

Around 85 percent of the population have been forced to move because of the war.

To achieve this last objective, it is proposed to hold a “Palestinian national dialogue”under the sponsorship of Egypt, with the aim of ending the division between Palestinian factions and with the aim of forming the technocratic government, EFE stated.

According to the Egyptian proposal, This technocratic transitional Executive must govern the West Bank and Gaza and will be responsible for overseeing the reconstruction of the Strip and paving the way for the holding of Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections.

For a complete ceasefire, an agreement will be sought not only with Hamasbut also with the Islamic Jihad and the other Palestinian factions.

When should the plan start to be implemented? According to EFE sources, the Egyptian proposal does not have an implementation schedule nor are details known about the security measures that would be imposed.

The plan of Egypt does not address the first objective of Israel in this war: the total destruction of Hamas.

On the Israeli side, Netanyahu has faced strong internal pressure in recent weeks to reach an agreement to return home the Israeli hostages who remain captive in Gaza.

In addition, the growing number of Israeli soldiers killed in the ground operation also threatens to undermine public support for the war, an AP analysis noted.

On the Palestinian side, it is not clear whether Hamas would agree to relinquish power after controlling Loop for the last 16 years.