US President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk in the midst of a joint news conference in the White House in Washington, US, Jan. 28, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyuahu has presented to US officials a proposal to end the war in Gaza in exchange for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas giving up power and its leaders leaving the enclave, according to a new report.

Under the plan, Israel would agree to release “senior” Palestinian prisoners that it did not want to free during the first phase of the ceasefire and hostage-release deal, which began on Jan. 19, the news site Axios reported on Thursday. In return, Hamas would release the remaining hostages, cede control of Gaza, and send its top leaders — including those serving jail sentences — into exile.

During his trip to Washington this week, Netanyahu reportedly informed the Trump administration that he does not believe the war in Gaza can end while Hamas controls the coastal enclave, arguing that an unconditional surrender by the terrorist group and an expulsion of its leaders would open the possibility for a lasting peace. 

According to Axios, Netanyahu told US officials this week that he wants to prolong the first phase of the ceasefire beyond the 42-day benchmark in order to free more than the 33 hostages originally agreed upon. Israel, which initially agreed to release more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners during the first phase of the deal, would release more in exchange for the release of more hostages.

Israeli officials close to the deal believe that a renegotiation could result in securing the release of two or three more hostages during the first phase. Furthermore, observers believe that an extension of the first phase of the deal would buy Israel more time to negotiate the freedom of its citizens without having to vacate troops from Gaza.

If Netanyahu succeeds in extending the first phase of the ceasefire, he plans on presenting Hamas officials a proposal to release a set of “senior” Palestinian prisoners that Israel initially refused to free, Axios reported.

According to Israeli officials, Hamas has reportedly agreed to hand over civilian governance of Gaza and relinquish reconstruction duties to the Palestinian Authority or another party.

However, there are some potential roadblocks that could result in a resumption of the war in Gaza, senior Israeli officials warn. The terrorist group will not agree to disarm or dissolve its military wing, according to Axios. Moreover, Israeli officials say the odds that Hamas leaders willingly exile themselves from the Gaza Strip are “extremely low.”