Israel’s war cabinet discussed a three-step peace plan on Monday proposed by Egypt, aiming to end the conflict in Gaza, which is in its 11th week now. The proposal, considered the most comprehensive so far, faces resistance from Israel and Palestine.
The three-step plan suggests,
- A two-week extendable humanitarian truce in the Gaza Strip.
- Release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for 140 Palestinian prisoners.
- Creation of a transitional government in Gaza and the West Bank, incorporating representatives from various Palestinian factions that would include Hamas.
Progress remains uncertain as Israeli officials explore different proposals to retrieve the release of the remaining 129 hostages held by Hamas.
Resistance
Forming a Gaza government with Hamas representatives in it is a big ‘no’ for Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains strong in his prerequisites for peace in the region.
“Hamas must be destroyed, Gaza must be demilitarized, and Palestinian society must be deradicalized,” he said in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Meanwhile, the situation remains dire in Gaza, where 20,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed.
US-Israel discussions
Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, who also happens to be a close confidant of Netanyahu, is set to discuss the country’s plans for transitioning to low-intensity operations in Gaza during meetings in the White House and State Department.
The visit comes at a time of heightened tension between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu about when to phase out of the Gaza war. The talks would revolve around the same and would also discuss how to manage post-war Gaza, including governance and humanitarian aid.