The framework for a Gaza ceasefire deal that would see the Palestinian enclave governed by neither Hamas nor Israel has reportedly been agreed by both parties.
After months of negotiations, the Biden administration is closing in on a negotiated end to the fighting between the IDF and Palestinian militants, the Washington Post reported this week.
But a final agreement “is not imminent,” given the complexity of the remaining elements of the plan.
According to the Post, the proposed deal would see the remaining living Israeli hostages released and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The first of the three stages would involve a six-week ceasefire during which 33 kidnapped civilians would be released by Hamas, including all female detainees, all men over 50, and all those who have been wounded.
Israel would meanwhile release hundreds of imprisoned Palestinians and withdraw from densely populated areas in the east of the Gaza Strip.
The second stage would see an interim governance plan activated.
Under this model, Gaza would be run by a security force trained by America and backed by “moderate Arab allies”, thought to include the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The on-the-ground manpower would be drawn from a group of around 2,500 supporters of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza who have reportedly been vetted by Israel.
A US source told the Washington Post that a Hamas official said the terror group is “prepared to relinquish authority to the interim governance arrangement”.
Earlier this month, the Israeli press reported that despite public statements to the contrary, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to allow the Palestinian Authority a role in governing Gaza following the war.
Top aides of the Israeli prime minister told the Times of Israel that while he is opposed to the “current PA”, Netanyahu could accept a reformed Ramallah leadership playing a role in running the territory.
That would likely involve the authority better addressing extremism and terrorism in the West Bank, they said.
Netanyahu is said to have conceded that he will have to hand control over Gaza to individuals with ties to the PA given the absence of workable alternatives.
One US and two Israeli officials told the Times of Israel that “local Palestinians” were required to run the enclave.
“‘Local Palestinians’ is code for PA-affiliated individuals,” an Israeli security official said.
The third stage of the peace plan revealed by the Washington Post is reportedly a “multi-year reconstruction plan”.
US officials are said to believe that following such an arrangement, a broader reshaping of regional security could take place.
This could mean Hezbollah’s forces withdrawing north of the Litani river in accordance with UN Resolution 1701 of 2006, and possibly a long-heralded Israel-Saudi peace deal, both of which would reduce the risk of the conflict spreading.
Separately, Reuters reported on Friday that Israeli and Egyptian negotiators have discussed a deal under which an electronic surveillance system along the border between Gaza and Egypt would allow the IDF to withdraw troops from the area.
Both Hamas and Egypt are said to be strongly opposed to Israel keeping forces on the border.
“The idea is obviously to detect tunnels, to detect any other ways that they’d be trying to smuggle weapons or people into Gaza,” a source told Reuters regarding the surveillance system.
“Obviously this would be a significant element in a hostage agreement.”
Netanyahu’s office publicly denied any suggestion that it was considering withdrawing from the border area.
“The prime minister insists that Israel remain on the Philadelphi corridor,” a statement said.
“He has instructed the negotiating teams accordingly, made this clear to U.S. representatives this week, and updated the Security Cabinet to this effect last night.”