Maariv indicated that the multi-stage plan formulated by a group of businessmen for the future of the Gaza Strip is a trial balloon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu had refrained from discussing plans for the “day after” the war, claiming that what was required of Israel was to focus on the war itself.

The newspaper said that the first phase requires the establishment of a full Israeli military administration in Gaza, which will manage the transfer of humanitarian aid and assume responsibility for caring for the civilian population in Gaza during the transitional phase.

It explained that in the second phase, which will occur at the same time, an international coalition of Arab countries will be established in which Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and other countries will participate.

While there was no immediate comment from the aforementioned Arab countries on what was reported by the Israeli newspaper.

Maariv pointed out that this alliance will be part of the regional normalization agreement that will be signed later, and will stand behind the establishment of a new body called the new Palestinian Authority.

It stated that the new Palestinian Authority will include officials who are not associated with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), nor directly associated with (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) Abu Mazen, and they will take over responsibility for Gaza from Israel, and thus the military government will also be abolished.

The newspaper continued: “Israel will reserve the right to act at the security level in Gaza, in the same way it does in the West Bank, whenever needs arise to thwart operations.”

Regarding the third stage, the newspaper explained that it will not occur until the stability of the Gaza Strip and the success of the new body, that is, the new Palestinian Authority. A comprehensive reform will also be implemented in the work of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, including the curriculum of the Palestinian education system.

It added: If this stage also goes well, and within a timetable that will be determined in advance, from two to four years, Israel will agree to recognize a demilitarized Palestinian state in the territories of the Palestinian Authority, and will even discuss the possibility of transferring additional areas that do not require the evacuation of settlements to that country.

According to the newspaper, this plan was secretly formulated in Israel by a body in Israel that includes a group of businessmen, and it was also presented to official American officials.

It said that among these businessmen are some close to Netanyahu, one of whom is a real close friend.

The newspaper considered that this is Netanyahu's trial balloon that is compatible with the American initiative for a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East.

It added: Netanyahu does not make these contacts directly, but only through his close friend (Minister of Strategic Affairs) Ron Dermer, but he promotes ideas and manipulates them in a way that he can always deny a direct connection to them.

The newspaper pointed out that in addition to this plan, they are working in Israel at the same time on several other programs for the “day after” the war on Gaza.

It said: There is a work headquarters for the coordinator of Israeli army operations in the territories (the Palestinian territories), Colonel Ghassan Alian, and the Israeli army is working on its own plan, and the General Security Agency (Shin Bet) is preparing recommendations for a detailed plan for the next day.

Maariv added: “The businessmen’s plan is the real plan that Netanyahu is thinking about.”

The authorities in Tel Aviv did not issue an immediate official comment on what was reported in Maariv.

In recent weeks, the United States has repeatedly announced its rejection of Israel's reoccupation of the Gaza Strip, establishing settlements there, or displacing its residents.

Source: Israeli press + Anadolu Agency