Israel is on board, claims Trump. Hamas also says it is satisfied with the proposal and, according to Saudi reports, will present its formal response by tonight. Israel is expected to come up with an official response during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit on Monday.
But what is Trump trying to get the parties to sign? Not much is known about the US-backed proposal, apart from that it involves a 60-day ceasefire. According to reports, Hamas will release ten live Israeli hostages and the remains of an additional 18.
The mediating countries, Qatar and Egypt, are said to present the final plan.
We are working towards a sustainable solution and a permanent ceasefire, said Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abd al-Atti on Egyptian TV on Sunday.
UN to deliver aid
During the 60 days, humanitarian aid will flow into the besieged Gaza Strip, according to Abd al-Atti. The ceasefire will, in the long run, pave the way for resuming the January 19 agreement, which formed the basis for the previous ceasefire in Gaza. It was abruptly ended when Israel unilaterally broke the agreement on March 18 this year.
A resumption of Israeli aggression would constitute a major threat to regional stability, warns Abd al-Atti now.
The new proposal stipulates that Israeli forces will withdraw to the positions they had before the previous ceasefire collapsed, along the Philadelphia corridor in southern Gaza, reports the Lebanese Al Akhbar. According to the newspaper, the UN's mechanisms for aid delivery to the people of Gaza will be reintroduced at the same time.
Many question marks
The crucial issue is likely the proposal's wording on the ceasefire's ultimate goal. Terror-listed Hamas has repeatedly demanded that an agreement must mean an end to the war and a complete Israeli military withdrawal, which Israel has refused to agree to. Israel has said it is only willing to end the war if Hamas dissolves and leaves the Gaza Strip, which Hamas has consistently rejected.
The remaining questions are, therefore, numerous. Will Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip? Completely or partially? How many Palestinian prisoners will Israel release in return? And why only a 60-day ceasefire?
The last question probably has an answer, according to several analysts. If Netanyahu were to agree to an immediate permanent ceasefire, the ultra-nationalists in his ruling coalition would make the government collapse – and Netanyahu would lose power. Far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – both with swing roles – have been clear in their demands: The war must continue.
