In a bid to ease escalating tensions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to the Middle East while Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has floated a postwar plan for the Gaza Strip, exposing divisions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. The proposal, presented at a stormy Israeli security Cabinet meeting, aims to address the devastating aftermath of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Gallant's plan is contingent upon the military's successful defeat of Hamas in Gaza. It suggests that while Israel maintains military control over Gaza's borders, a "multinational task force" would oversee the reconstruction and economic development of the region, which has been heavily impacted by relentless Israeli airstrikes over the past three months.

Under this proposal, civilians in Gaza without ties to Hamas would be entrusted with handling civilian affairs in the enclave. However, the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, would have no role in the plan. Additionally, there would be no resettlement of Israelis in Gaza, a proposition supported by far-right Israelis.

The proposal by Gallant appears to be an attempt to find middle ground between the postwar plans put forward by the United States and those advocated by members of the Israeli far right. The Biden administration has called for a "revamped and revitalized" Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza after the war, in line with a two-state solution that incorporates Gaza and the West Bank. However, this approach faces opposition from many right-wing Israelis.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a prominent far-right Israeli leader, criticized Gallant's plan and called for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinian civilians from Gaza. Smotrich and another far-right leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir, have suggested Israeli resettlement of the enclave as a long-term solution to the conflict.

The Israeli security Cabinet meeting where the proposal was presented was described as turbulent, with some ministers challenging the military's chief of staff for initiating an investigation into the failures that led to attacks on Oct. 7. Amidst the internal tensions, Netanyahu's delicate coalition government must stay united to maintain its majority in parliament and avoid early elections.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has ruled out any negotiations to halt the fighting until the war in Gaza ends. Nasrallah's powerful armed group has been clashing with Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanon border. Blinken's visit to the region aims to prevent a wider regional war after the recent assassination of a senior Hamas official in Beirut.

As the situation remains tense, Lebanon's caretaker government has lodged a complaint with the U.N. Security Council over the attack, labeling it a violation of its sovereignty. Nasrallah has vowed that Hezbollah will avenge the killing of the Hamas leader, but the specific nature and timing of their response remain unclear.

Efforts to de-escalate the conflict and find a path towards lasting peace continue amidst the ongoing violence and political divisions. The international community closely watches developments in the region, hoping for progress towards a more stable future.