What we know about the next steps in the agreement to stop the war in Gaza

A decisive agreement has been reached to stop the war in Gaza. But will it be led by the American President? donald trump “A strong, durable and everlasting peace” was declared?

This put pressure on both israel Hamas From the United States, Arab countries and Turkey, each said it is time to end the 2-year-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip, killing thousands PalestiniansThis gave rise to other conflicts in the region and Israel became increasingly isolated.

That effort sealed an agreement on a first phase that would free the remaining surviving Israeli hostages within days in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

But a long list of questions remained unanswered about what would happen next.

Israel wants to ensure that Hamas disarms. Hamas wants to ensure that Israel completely withdraws its troops from Gaza and is not allowed to restart the war. Also, a post-war government should be formed for Gaza to replace Hamas’ rule. Without it, reconstruction is unlikely to happen, leaving Gaza’s more than 2 million people in perpetual crisis.

With no trust between the parties, much depends on continued pressure from the deal’s guarantors – the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. Any disruption in resolving those interconnected issues could spell disaster and potentially force Israel to restart its campaign to destroy Hamas.

Here’s what we know about the deal.

immediate steps

Cabinet of one-time Israeli Prime Minister benjamin netanyahu Arab officials and a Hamas official spoke on condition of anonymity because the text of the agreement has not been released, and once the country’s parliament ratifies the deal – expected on Thursday evening – it will begin a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza. The extent of the withdrawal has not yet been made public, but Hamas officials have said troops will move out of populated areas.

Hamas has agreed to release 20 surviving hostages within a few days, possibly on Monday, and Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas will also hand over the remains of approximately 28 hostages who are believed to have died, although this may take longer for logistical reasons.

At the same time, hundreds of aid trucks would begin moving into Gaza, with the number increasing over time.

After this, negotiations will begin for the next steps.

withdrawal of army

Hamas has long insisted that it will not release the last of its hostages until Israeli troops leave Gaza completely. Now, after first agreeing to free them, Hamas says it is counting on concrete guarantees from Trump that there will be a full withdrawal.

But how long it will take – weeks, months, years – is unknown.

Israel has said it will keep troops in a buffer zone inside Gaza and in the Philadelphia Corridor, a strip of land on Gaza’s border with Egypt.

Unless Hamas disarms and the void left in running Gaza is filled by an entity Israel finds palatable, Israel is unlikely to give up those territories.

An initial 20-point plan released by Trump last week called for an Arab-led international security force to be moved into Gaza along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would leave those areas as soon as those forces were deployed.

It is not known whether that system will be followed or an alternative will be negotiated.

disarmament

Hamas has long refused to give up its weapons and has said it has the right to armed resistance until Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories ends.

For Israel, this is a major demand. Netanyahu has repeatedly said that his campaign will not end until Hamas’ military capabilities are destroyed, including the network of tunnels built around the area.

However, there are indications that Hamas may agree to “decommissioning” its offensive weapons, handing them over to the Joint Palestinian-Egyptian Committee, according to Arab officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity.

future government

Israel has said that it wants to free Gaza from the influence of Hamas. But it has also refused to give any role to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority or any arrangement that could lead to the creation of a Palestinian state.

Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, has agreed to give up rule over the territory and hand over governance to a body of Palestinian technocrats.

What will replace it is still uncertain.

Under Trump’s plan, agreed to by Netanyahu, an international body — the Peace Council or Peace Board, as both names have been released — would rule.

It would hold most powers while overseeing the administration of Palestinian technocrats who run day-to-day affairs. It will also play a commanding role in directing reconstruction in Gaza. Trump’s initial 20-point plan called for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to lead the body.

Hamas has not yet agreed, saying that Gaza’s government should act among Palestinians with respect for their rights to sovereignty.

bet

Israelis celebrated overnight in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh the agreement announced after three days of talks. For most of the Israeli public, freeing the last hostages held for two years has been their top priority.

But Palestinians in Gaza were more uncertain. There was relief that the continuous bombing and ground attacks could stop for a while and help could arrive. But there was also doubt and concern over how long any lull in fighting would last, whether hundreds of thousands of people would be able to return to their homes, and whether Gaza – its cities largely in ruins – would ever be rebuilt.

Many Palestinians fear that Israel will take any breakdown in talks as an opportunity to resume its attacks. For months, Netanyahu and his hardline allies have insisted they will maintain long-term direct security control over Gaza and have called for the evacuation of its Palestinian population on a “voluntary” basis. In Gaza, many believe this is Israel’s aim.

Pressure from the United States and its allies – if continued after the release of the hostages – could prevent Israel from resuming full-scale war.

But there is an even more suspicious scenario. If Hamas and Israel do not reach a final agreement or the talks proceed inconclusively, Gaza could remain in an unstable limbo, with parts of it still occupied by Israeli troops and Hamas still active. In that case, Israel would be unlikely to allow significant reconstruction, leaving Gaza’s population confined to tent camps or shelters.