First, a multinational force, led by the United States in partnership with European and moderate Arab states, will assume responsibility for the reconstruction and economic rehabilitation of the Strip.
Second, existing Palestinian administrative mechanisms will be preserved, provided that their officials are not affiliated with Hamas. Authorities dealing with health, sanitation, electricity, water and aid will continue to work in cooperation with the new task force.
In Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, members of the Abu Sinjar family mourned today, Friday, their relatives who were martyred in the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip. Other photos show that several children were among at least seven dead.credit: AP
Third, Egypt – the “principal party” in the plan – retains responsibility for the main civilian border crossing into Gaza, in coordination with Israel.
Fourth, Israel retains military control over the border and the right to take military and security measures inside Gaza where it deems necessary.
“The people of Gaza are Palestinians. “The Palestinian bodies will assume responsibility, provided that there are no hostile actions or threats against the State of Israel,” Gallant said.
The plan has been presented as Gallant's plan, but it is clear that, for now, it has the approval of his Likud colleague, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He avoids mentioning the two most controversial elements in any serious peace proposal – the role of the Palestinian Authority and a Palestinian state – but he does not rule them out either.
However, the consistency of the Israeli plan with the Egyptian proposals published on Christmas Eve is what is most surprising.
This plan – which is currently being discussed by Hamas and Israeli representatives in Cairo and is also familiar to Blinken – offers a three-point path to achieving sustainable peace.
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It begins with a two-week truce during which 40 Israeli hostages held by Hamas (women, children and sick adults) are released in exchange for the release of 120 Palestinian prisoners and more aid to Gaza.
In the second phase of the deal, a new administration dedicated to overseeing the rehabilitation of Gaza and preparing the Strip for elections will be formed – closely aligning with Gallant’s vision.
The third and final phase will include talks for a comprehensive ceasefire that includes the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, and once this is completed, Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza.
Israeli policy is so finely balanced that Netanyahu himself has not directly mentioned any of the proposals, or indeed the ongoing withdrawal of five full divisions of IDF forces from Gaza.
His ruling coalition government only needs five representatives to resign, and it will fall, triggering new elections.
The right-wing ethno-nationalists who support the current government – men who have been openly calling for Gaza to be cleansed of Palestinians by exporting to places like Congo – are almost certain to jump in at some point.
Blinken's task in the coming weeks and months is to somehow achieve this safely.
Paul Nockey is global health security editor at The Telegraph, London.
