Watan-The American newspaper “The Wall Street Journal” reported that Qatar, acting as a mediator between Hamas and Israel, has put forward a new plan aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been experiencing intense Israeli aggression since last October.

According to the newspaper, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar are pressuring Israel and Hamas to engage in a phased diplomatic process, starting with the release of prisoners and ultimately leading to the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and the end of the war in Gaza, as stated by diplomats involved in the process.

As per the report, the 90-day plan will lead to a long-term ceasefire. During the initial phase, the Palestinian resistance movement will release all Israeli civilian prisoners in its custody.

At the same time, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, withdraw from Gaza cities, allow freedom of movement in the sector, halt the surveillance of unmanned aerial vehicles over Gaza, and double the amount of aid entering the besieged area.

Stages of the Next Plan

Subsequent stages of the plan involve Hamas releasing Israeli soldiers from the Israeli army and handing over the bodies of deceased Israelis, while Israel releases more Palestinian prisoners. The third stage includes Israel withdrawing its forces to the borders of Gaza, while Hamas frees the remaining captive Israeli soldiers.

The plan aims for a permanent cessation of hostilities, with subsequent talks expected to address a permanent ceasefire, normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as other Arab states, and a new process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state—an outcome explicitly opposed by the Netanyahu government.

Plan Aiming for a Permanent Ceasefire

According to Egyptian officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, discussions on a permanent ceasefire will follow, including talks on normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as other Arab countries, and a new process leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state. The negotiations on the ceasefire are expected to begin in Cairo in the coming days.

It was also reported that the White House Middle East envoy, Brett McGurk, will visit Egypt and Qatar this week to discuss the ongoing conflict and hostage release negotiations.

The Biden administration has been increasingly pressuring Israel to quickly reduce its military campaign amidst growing international protests over the rising casualties in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that ending the war between Israel and Hamas “as soon as possible” is a top priority for the Biden administration in 2024. Simultaneously, top leaders of the Israeli military reportedly believe that Israel’s stated goals of destroying Hamas and releasing the Israeli hostages held by them are not compatible.

The United States and Israel also differ on the future of Gaza post-war. Biden seeks to revive the Palestinian Authority to take control, leading to a final two-state solution, while Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition opposes and rejects such proposals.