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Beyond these initial stages, much more needs to be done for the ceasefire to take effect, say people familiar with the Egyptian plan.
In the coming weeks, Hamas should stay the course on demonstrations – allowing peaceful demonstrations but preventing people from using explosives or wire cutters to damage the fence, for example, said Basem Naim, former Minister of Health in Gaza.
In return, Hamas expects Egypt to facilitate the movement of Gazans through the Rafah crossing point in Sinai. Hamas calls on Israel to extend Gaza's fishing zone to 12, 14 or even 20 nautical miles from the Mediterranean, and to increase the number of Gazan businessmen authorized by the Israeli border.
Hamas also wants thousands of permits for Gaza workers to enter Israel, which Israel has rejected so far for security reasons. But Celine Touboul, an expert on economic cooperation with Israel's Economic Cooperation Foundation in Gaza, said the situation could change.
"A year ago, Israeli officials would have told you, they would not accept any transfer of money to Hamas officials," she said. "But the situation is so tense that they have changed their minds."
More durable détente between Israel and Gaza, however, would require progress in areas where differences seem irreconcilable. Israel calls on Hamas to give up two Israeli prisoners and the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, a prerequisite for major international reconstruction projects in Gaza. Hamas has so far refused the request, unless it is part of a large-scale prisoner exchange.
And the main objective of Egypt remains to restore the Palestinian authority in power in Gaza. But Abbas will probably not accept this solution unless Hamas unilaterally disarms or Israel gives assurances that it will not punish Hamas if Hamas, under its watch, uses weapons against Israel.
