Since 6 October, Egypt’s Sharm el‑Sheikh hosts talks between Israel and Hamas, with U.S. mediators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, while Israel prepares a Plan B warning of “death or deportation” if negotiations fail.
Sharm el‑Sheikh Talks with U.S. Mediators
From 6 October, Israeli and Hamas representatives are meeting in Sharm el‑Sheikh to end two‑year‑old fighting. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and former advisor Jared Kushner, who drafted earlier Arab‑Israel agreements, are attending. Qatar’s diplomats acknowledge the task is difficult.
The main obstacle is turning the peace plan into practice. Qatar’s spokesperson, Madjid‑Ansari, said practical solutions must be found for disarmament of Hamas and governance of Gaza after the war. The Palestinian side demands the U.S. president ensure Israel withdraws all troops from Gaza if a ceasefire is signed.
Paris Diplomatic Sessions Parallel Negotiations
In Paris, senior diplomats from various countries, including the United States, are set to discuss how to implement the plan and assess each country’s commitments. The talks also aim to continue the UN conference on a two‑state solution, encouraging joint actions that could support the U.S. plan for Gaza.
Israel’s Controversial Plan B Revealed
According to British newspaper The Times, Israel has drafted an emergency plan that would be invoked if Hamas rejects a deal. The plan, described as “death or deportation,” consists of three stages: an intensified campaign for total occupation, division of Gaza into five military zones labeled “sterile,” and subsequent “cleansing” of these zones of any Hamas presence.
The plan also calls for the forced segregation and relocation of Gaza civilians to designated areas, and the creation of a “humanitarian city” as explained by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. A final stage would see Israel, with U.S. cooperation, eliminate Hamas leaders inside and outside Gaza.
Former Prime Ministers Question the Plan
Former Israeli prime ministers Yair Lapid and Ehud Olmert have labeled the proposal a concentration camp. They note that Gaza residents could apply for voluntary departure through Israel’s newly established “voluntary emigration office” and would be transported to unaffiliated third countries. The forced relocation idea had appeared earlier in U.S.–Israeli talks, when Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump suggested partitioning Gaza into a “Near East Riviera.” Human‑rights organizations compared the concept to ethnic cleansing.
