All the hostages, all at once: Egypt, Qatar formulate new plan for ending Gaza war

Backed by major Gulf states, the proposal would see Israel withdraw from Gaza in exchange for the release of all hostages, with an Arab-Palestinian committee overseeing the strip until a new Palestinian government is formed and trained security forces take over. Egypt and Qatar are working to shape a new framework agreement that would see all hostages — both living and deceased — released in a single phase, alongside an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and a full IDF withdrawal. 

Two Arab officials told the Associated Press on Friday that the proposal has the backing of major Gulf states, which fear “regional instability” if Israel moves ahead with a complete takeover of the territory.
The proposed framework is expected to address, among other points, the issue of disarming Hamas — a step the group firmly opposes but which remains one of Israel’s key conditions for ending the conflict, as reaffirmed 

Thursday night by the Security Cabinet. One Arab official directly involved in the mediation said current discussions center on a “freeze” in Hamas’s use of its weaponry. In effect, Hamas would retain its arms but agree not to deploy them. The group would also be required to relinquish control of Gaza — a step it is believed willing to take, given repeated statements to that effect throughout most of the war.

According to one source familiar with the talks, the United States has been briefed on the broad outlines of the emerging deal. The plan also envisions an Arab-Palestinian committee to govern Gaza and oversee reconstruction until a “Palestinian government” can be established, complete with a police force trained by America’s Middle East allies. It remains unclear whether this government would include the Palestinian Authority, and if not, who would lead it or how it would assume power in the strip. (Read More)