A new proposal for a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been put forth by Qatar and Turkey, The Times of Israel has learned.

Palestinian sources said that Turkey passed along the proposal via the Qatari ambassador to the Gaza Strip, Muhammad Al-Ahmadi, who visited Israel and even met with Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai.

Turkish and Qatari ambassadors met with Hamas representatives in Anakara, and also in Gaza, and presented them with the framework for the plan. The details were also given to senior members of the Palestinian Authority.

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The Times of Israel reported in March on the Qatari channel between Israel and Hamas. This latest bid from Turkey essentially joins Qatar’s to make a joint proposal.

According to various sources in Gaza, the basic plan, which has been dubbed “Tahdiat Ala’amar” (ceasefire for reconstruction) in the Strip, will include a five-year moratorium on hostilities between the two sides.

Turkey’s contribution to the plan is the idea of creating a floating harbor across from the Strip’s coast, where ships bringing merchandise to Gaza can drop anchor. The merchandise making its way into the Strip would go through a security check. According to the same Palestinian sources, the party responsible for the inspection would be NATO, of which Turkey is a member.

However, Israeli strongly opposes the creation of a port, even a floating one across from Gaza.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas recently claimed that Israel and Hamas have had direct contact with each other, something both sides will not discuss. And indeed, The Times of Israel has learned that Israeli individuals — in an unofficial capacity — have been in contact with Hamas in an attempt to find a permanent solution to the situation in Gaza.

A senior Hamas official refused to comment.

In an interview, the official said that the Turkish port idea is not a new one and has been presented in the past. He added that Al-Ahmadi, the Qatari broker, had spoken with Hamas only with regards to reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.

Though he admitted that several ideas have been presented by various parties for a long-term ceasefire agreement, “none of the ideas have earned a response from the Israeli side” and have thus been shelved.

Still, Hamas said that there have been exchanges recently with Israel. A Hamas official in the Strip, Ahmad Yousef, confirmed Monday that there has been contact between the two sides about a truce through European brokers.

The Times of Israel reported in March on the existence of several diplomatic channels that are trying to bring about a ceasefire, among them one led by the UN representative to the Middle East, Robert Serry.