A Wishful Thinking Proposal: Basic Principles of Three-Week Program Dynamics

ENDING THE WAR IN GAZA, RETURNING THE HOSTAGES, AND A NEW REGIME IN GAZA

Before this plan enters into implementation, with the agreement of Hamas, President Mahmoud Abbas will appoint the Chief Commissioner of the Gaza Council of Commissioners – a non-Hamas, a non-Fatah, professional government of technocrats for Gaza for 24-36 months until there is enough stability to conduct full Palestinian democratic elections for the State of Palestine (West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem). The Gaza Council of Commissioners will not be run by the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank, even though its Chief Commissioner will be appointed by President Abbas. From the day of appointment of the Chief Commissioner, the Council of Commissioners will be formed and appointed by its head. By Day 17 of this plan, the Council of Commissioners will officially take control over Gaza following Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the transference of all governing power from Hamas.  All local (Israeli, Egyptian, Qatari, USA, etc. and International Organizations will refer to the Council of Commissioners as the only legal governing body in Gaza). 

• DAY 1: AT 6:00 am on the determined day, a full ceasefire of both sides enters into force on Day 1.  Israel will cease all of the IDF aggressive activities in Gaza. Israel will pull out of populated areas from day 1 and begin to redeploy in preparation for a full withdrawal from Gaza. Hamas will cease all aggressive activities against Israeli soldiers. No rockets or mortars will be fired by Hamas from Day 1. Armed Hamas personnel will not be shot at by Israel from Day 1 unless they are attacking Israeli soldiers. Armed Israeli soldiers will not be shot at by Hamas unless Israeli soldiers are shooting at them.
• DAY 1 TO DAY 5: By 12:00 noon on Day 1, through the mediators, Israel will provide a list of all of the Israeli and foreign hostages that are believed to be in Gaza.  By 12:00 noon on Day 5, Hamas will know the location of all of the hostages and their condition. Hamas will have five days to collect this information. The list of hostages and their condition will be handed over to the mediators no later than 12:00 noon on Day 5.
• DAY 1: Israel will cease flyover missions over Gaza from 6:00 on day 1 except the flyover missions for three hours a day coordinated through the mediators for the only purpose of coordinating and supervising Israeli troop movements out of populated areas and a return to Israel proper.  The 3-hour flyover operations by Israel will be fully coordinated and will only occur while Israeli troops are on the move out of populated areas and back towards the Israeli borders.
• DAY 7 and Day 8: On Day 7, Israel will begin to withdraw its forces from all of the Rafah and Khan Yunis areas. The withdrawal of Israel forces from this area will be done on Day 7 and Day 8.
• DAY 9: On Day 9, Hamas will release all of the wounded, sick, living children and elderly and women hostages and Israel will release the agreed number and names of Palestinian prisoners. The ICRC will coordinate the logistics of the transfers of prisoners and hostages with Israel and Hamas.
• DAY 10 AND DAY 11: On Day 10 and Day 11, Israel will withdraw its forces to north of Wadi Gaza.
• DAY 12: On Day 12, Hamas will release all of the dead bodies of the hostages in exchange for the agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. The ICRC will coordinate the logistics of the transfers of prisoners and hostages with Israel and Hamas.
• DAY 13: On Day 13, the Rafah crossing will be opened with agreed international supervision and a mechanism which is not Hamas run on the Gaza side of the crossing. Increased humanitarian aid will begin to flow into Gaza as agreed in the detailed negotiations.
• DAY 14: On Day 14, Israel will withdraw from all areas south of Jabalia.
• DAY 15: On Day 15, Hamas will release all of the remaining hostages, civilian or military which have not yet been released in exchange for the release of the agreed to number of Palestinian prisoners. The ICRC will coordinate the logistics of the transfers of prisoners and hostages with Israel and Hamas.
• DAY 16- DAY 16: On Day 16 and 17, Israel will withdraw from the remaining areas of Gaza.
• Day 17 onward: The Gaza Council of Commissioners will have full responsibility for the governing of Gaza.
• Day 18: A coordinating meeting will take place between the Gaza Commission of Commissions and Israeli civilian and military officials. The meeting will take place at the Erez Crossing. The meeting will focus on the massive increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza from all entrance points along the Israel-Gaza border and via the Rafah crossing, including the necessary security and inspection mechanisms. 
• Day 21: A summit meeting will take place between the Gaza Commission of Commissioners and all Arab leaders prepared to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza including the possible sending of an Arab-led peace keeping force to Gaza for a limited period of time.

There are of course many additional elements and details that must be included in this plan.  This is a very general outline posted to provide some insights, some hopes, and some directions forward.