Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented a plan in Washington to end the war in Gaza and release senior Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for the removal of senior Hamas leaders from the territory, The Times of Israel reported Thursday, a claim denied by a Netanyahu spokesman.

The newspaper quoted the Israeli website Walla as saying that Netanyahu's plan also includes moving to the second stage of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and Hamas relinquishing civil control over the Strip.

The Times of Israel reported that a spokesman for Netanyahu denied the matter, stressing that the Israeli Prime Minister did not present any plans regarding the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

The first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas went into effect on January 19 after a 15-month war, and included a halt to fighting and the release of some Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Israel releasing some Palestinian prisoners from its jails.

The first phase, brokered by Egypt and Qatar and backed by the United States, has been going on for six weeks and is largely holding, but the prospects for a lasting settlement are unclear.

The war in Gaza began after a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which, according to Israeli statistics, killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Palestinian health authorities say the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 47,000 Palestinians.

Hamas and Netanyahu's government, which includes hardline ministers who opposed the ceasefire, say they are committed to reaching a consensus in the second phase, but each criticizes the other over the implementation of the agreement.

Israeli leaders say Hamas cannot survive in Gaza, but the movement seizes every opportunity to demonstrate the control it still exercises despite the deaths of many of its leaders and thousands of fighters during the war.