Egypt on Sunday proposed a three-phase plan to end the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, according to various media reports, but it is unclear how the warring parties will receive it.
Israel’s war cabinet convened Monday, and among other topics, they were expected to discuss ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages, an Israeli official told CNN. The source would not acknowledge the reported Egyptian proposal.
Egypt’s three-phase deal would “secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza,” CNN Political and Foreign Policy Analyst Barak Ravid reports, citing two Israeli sources. CNN has not independently obtained a copy of the plan.
- In the first phase of the plan, Israel would be expected to pause its military operations for one to two weeks for Hamas to release 40 hostages, including women and the elderly, according to Ravid.
- The second phase includes an agreement of the exchange of bodies of Hamas militants held by Israel for the bodies of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, he added.
- The third phase of the plan “includes an ‘all-for-all’ deal,” Ravid reports, meaning Israel would return 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails for the remaining Israeli hostages — including soldiers — Hamas is holding in captivity.
Last week, Hamas said Palestinian factions would not agree to any talks about prisoner swaps until after Israel ends its military operation in Gaza.
The third phase also includes the end of the war, with Israel pulling out from Gaza and “the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza that will not be affiliated with Hamas and will get the support of the U.S., Egypt and Qatar,” Ravid reports.
The three-phase plan is also outlined by Israeli and other international news outlets, citing various officials and diplomatic sources.
CNN has reached out to Egyptian officials for comment on the reported plan.
Tamar Michaelis contributed to this report.