Egypt has unveiled an ambitious plan to end the war in Gaza with a ceasefire.

The proposal, presented to Israel, Hamas, the United States and European governments on Monday, calls for a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the release of all prisoners held by Hamas and many Palestinian prisoners, and the establishment of a unified technocratic Palestinian government the enclave.

The proposal, drawn up with the Gulf state of Qatar, calls for several rounds of prisoner and detainee exchanges, Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reports from Tel Aviv.

In the first phase, Hamas would release all civilian prisoners in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of a seven- to 10-day ceasefire.

In the second phase, Hamas would release all Israeli soldiers as part of another week-long ceasefire in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners.

In the final phase, the warring parties would “negotiate for a month to discuss the release of all military personnel held by Hamas in exchange for much more.” [Palestinian] Prisoners and Israel are retreating to Gaza’s borders,” Smith said.

According to Palestinian figures, nearly 8,000 Palestinians are being held by Israel on security-related charges or convictions.

During the ceasefire, Egypt would also hold talks to reunite the Palestinian factions Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which would then jointly appoint a government of experts to govern the West Bank and Gaza ahead of future elections. Reports The Times of Israel.

Traction

The plan appears to be tentative, and there are already indications that it may be difficult to gain traction with either side.

Israel’s War Cabinet was due to discuss the proposal on Monday as the Israeli military continues to bomb Gaza over the Christmas holidayswith at least 100 Palestinians killed within 12 hours.

Experts noted that the Cabinet, which has been under intense pressure to bring the remaining prisoners home, is divided and may have difficulty accepting some of the terms of the deal.

“One challenge is a ceasefire or ceasefire,” Mohammed Cherkaoui, a conflict resolution professor at George Mason University, told Al Jazeera. “The Palestinians are talking about a comprehensive ceasefire. The Israelis hear a ‘truce,’ a pause.”

Cherkaoui added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu must also step down from his stated mission to eradicate Hamas.

“On the one hand [Netanyahu] He is still negotiating indirectly with Hamas, but at the same time his greatest dream is to eradicate Hamas.”

“He lives in two separate worlds and he has to unite them,” Cherkaoui said.

A Western diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press that Netanyahu and his hawkish government were unlikely to accept the full proposal.

Meanwhile, citing Egyptian security sources, Reuters reported that Hamas and its allied Islamic Jihad rejected the proposal to give up power in the Gaza Strip.

But a Hamas official later denied Egypt’s rejection of the agreement. Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, said in a statement that the group had “no knowledge” of the information published in the Reuters report.

Israel enters his 12th week a devastating air and ground attack in Gaza that killed more than 20,400 Palestinians, including 8,200 children.

Air strikes have destroyed much of the besieged enclave, destroying entire blocks and neighborhoods offset 1.9 million Palestinians now live in “catastrophic” conditions with little food, water and medicine, the United Nations warns.

There are believed to be 129 prisoners still in the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli territory, which also killed nearly 1,200 people.