The announcement of the cease-fire proposal presented by Joe Biden has rekindled hopes for peace in Gaza, with both sides, however, raising obstacles that mainly concern the political survival of the parties involved.

The proposal, which in its final stage foresees a permanent end to hostilities, which is an Israeli plan as announced by the American president, has not yet been accepted by either Israel or Hamas as the two sides seem to disagree on fundamental issues.

What does the plan provide?

Israel and Hamas agreed to a week-long ceasefire in November. But the proposal now on the table, as articulated by Biden, is more ambitious. However, important issues remain unresolved, including the question of Gaza’s governance and whether it will remain under Hamas control.

Three phase proposal

In the first phase, among other things, Israel would have to withdraw from population centers in Gaza during a six-week truce, and dozens of women and elderly hostages held in the enclave by Hamas would be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. .

During this period, talks on a permanent ceasefire will continue and, if successful, the agreement will enter the second phase, with the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the enclave. At this stage, all hostages and more Palestinian prisoners will be released. In the third phase, Hamas will have to return the bodies of the dead hostages and begin a three- to five-year reconstruction period, with the support of the United States, European countries and international institutions.

What are Israel’s concerns?

One of the key sticking points between Hamas and Israel over the plan is the length of the ceasefire and Hamas’s future role. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday in a closed-door meeting that he is open to a six-week ceasefire, but has publicly declared that Israel will fight until Hamas’ government and military capabilities are destroyed.

As the proposal is worded, it appears Hamas will hold phase two and three talks with Israel, suggesting it will retain some control over Gaza. Netanyahu has repeatedly said that is a red line and has ruled out a governing role for the Palestinian Authority, a bitter rival of Hamas that has limited governing powers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The Israeli prime minister is facing pressure from the United States and other allies to end the war while on another domestic front two far-right partners in his governing coalition are threatening to topple the government if Israel agrees to a deal that would end the war without elimination of Hamas.

In a sign of that pressure, one of the two, Israel’s far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, said on Wednesday that his party would continue to press Netanyahu’s coalition until it released details of the proposal. Two Israeli officials confirmed this week that the proposal announced by Biden was broadly in line with the most recent ceasefire proposal presented by Israel in talks brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

What obstacles does Hamas present?

Hamas in an early comment said it was responding “positively” to the plan, but at a news conference on Tuesday, Osama Hamdan, a Hamas spokesman, said the armed group had informed mediators that it could not approve a deal that did not provide for a permanent a ceasefire, a total withdrawal of Israeli troops and a “serious and real agreement” to exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostages.

On the same day, Sami Abu Zuhri, a member of Hamas’ politburo, accused Israel of not taking the deal talks seriously and added that the White House was putting pressure on Hamas despite “knowing that the problem lies” with the Israelis .

Many Gazans are urgently calling for an end to the war, but analysts note that Hamas is refusing to heed the enclave’s civilian demands. Political experts point out that the group’s leaders, including its senior leader Yahya Sinwar, may be in no rush to end the conflict, believing in part that Hamas’s influence will diminish once it agrees to release the hostages.

Sinuar, who is believed to be the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack, has yet to weigh the proposal, said an official involved in the negotiations.