Egypt proposes ambitious plan to end war in Gaza amid fierce bombing of refugee camp: 70 dead

Proposed by Egypt an ambitious preliminary plan end the war between Israel and Hamas with a ceasefire, a gradual handover of hostages and the creation of a Palestinian government of experts that would administer the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, an Egyptian official and a European diplomat. The proposal was presented in the midst of fierce Israeli bombing the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the center of the Strip, with a death toll of 70, according to Palestinian sources.

The proposal, mediated with Qatar, a Persian Gulf countryit was presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments, even if it still seemed temporary. It did not achieve Israel’s stated goal completely crush Hamas and did not appear to heed Israeli insistence that its army maintain control of the Gaza Strip long after the war.

Israel’s war cabinet, which includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was due to meet later Monday to discuss, among other issues, the hostage situation, an Israeli official said, who did not clarify whether the Egyptian proposal will be discussed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to provide information to the media.

The news of the proposal was known after three particularly deadly days in Gaza before Christmasin which three airstrikes killed dozens of Palestinians each, and 17 Israeli soldiers were killed in ground fighting in the north, center and south of the territory.

War devastated much of Gaza, killed more than 20,400 Palestinians and resulted in the displacement of almost all of the territory’s 2.3 million inhabitants.

The growing number of victims among Israeli troops156 since the start of the ground offensive – could reduce public support for the war, which erupted on October 7 when militants led by Hamas attacked cities in southern Israel, where They killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.

A majority of Israelis support the country’s stated goals of crushing Hamas’s military and governance capacity free the 129 remaining prisoners. Such support remains despite growing international pressure against the Israeli offensive and the enormous number of casualties and unprecedented suffering among Palestinians.

Egyptian proposal

The Egyptian proposal is an ambitious initiative not only to end the war, but also to shape it a plan for the future.

He asks an initial ceasefire lasting up to two weeksduring which the Palestinian militiamen freed between 40 and 50 hostages, including women, the elderly and the sick, in exchange for the release ofand between 120 and 150 Palestinians of Israeli prisons, according to the Egyptian official. He spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing negotiation.

At the same time, negotiations will continue to extend the truce and release other hostages and bodies held by Palestinian militants, he said.

Egypt and Qatar will also cooperate with all Palestinian factions, including Hamas agree on the formation of a government of experts, he indicated. That government would administer the Gaza Strip and West Bank during a transition period while Palestinian factions resolve their disputes and agree on a roadmap hold presidential and parliamentary elections, he added.

Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas would continue to negotiate a comprehensive agreement. This would also include the release of all other hostages in exchange for all Palestinian prisoners in Israel the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and for Palestinian militants to stop firing rockets at Israel. According to Palestinian data, nearly 8,000 Palestinians are detained by Israel on security-related convictions or charges.

The Egyptian authorities discussed the rudiments of the plan with Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, who resides in Qatar and visited Cairo last week. They also intended to discuss it with the leader of the Islamic Jihad group, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, who arrived in the city on Sunday, the official said.

The armed group, which also took part in the October 7 attack, said it was willing to consider handing over the hostages only once the fighting was over.

For his part, a Western diplomat said he was aware of the Egyptian proposal. But the person, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter, doubted that Netanyahu and his belligerent government would accept the entire proposal. The diplomat did not provide further details.

The Israeli offensive was one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which makes no distinction between civilians and combatants in its count, more than two-thirds of the more than 20,400 Palestinians killed were women and children.

Since Friday, 17 soldiers have died in combat, most in central and southern Gaza.