Israel-Hamas ceasefire: What’s next for Gaza aid, hostages and more

cease-fire

Israel and Hamas agreed to an open ceasefire after two years of war, which the United States and other mediators hope will eventually end the conflict.

• Broad agreement Negotiators from both sides sign the agreement in Egypt
• Approval of the Israeli Cabinet The Israeli government officially votes on the agreement
• The beginning of the ceasefire Both sides suspend military operations

Partial Israeli military withdrawal

It is expected that Israeli forces will partially withdraw from the Gaza Strip while remaining deployed there.

• Broad agreement Israel and Hamas agree on maps for the withdrawal of Israeli forces
• The Israeli army’s preparations to withdraw to the agreed-upon line Israeli forces reduced their operations in preparation
• Withdrawal of the Israeli army to the agreed-upon line Soldiers withdraw to the agreed-upon “yellow line” in Gaza

Hostage exchange

Hamas is expected to release 20 hostages in Gaza and hand over the bodies of 28 others. Israel is scheduled to release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the bodies of 360 Palestinians.

• Broad agreement Negotiators from both sides sign the agreement in Egypt
• Approval of the Israeli Cabinet The Israeli government officially votes on the agreement
• Start of 72 hour window Hamas has 72 hours to return the living Israeli hostages and their remains
• Return of hostages Hamas is handing over more than 20 hostages alive and the bodies of those it managed to find
• Release of Palestinian prisoners Israel releases about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners
• Exchange of hostages and dead prisoners Hamas returns the bodies of the remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for the remains of Palestinian detainees

Helps

Restrictions on the delivery of much-needed food, medicine and other relief items are set to be lifted. The Rafah crossing with Egypt should also be opened.

• Broad agreement Israel and Hamas sign humanitarian conditions in Gaza
• Additional aid begins to enter Gaza Aid groups begin bringing in hundreds of additional relief trucks daily
• Re-opening the Rafah crossing The Gaza border crossing with Egypt has reopened, allowing more aid and some people to leave

Rule of Gaza

Trump’s plan stipulates that Gaza will be governed after the war by a technocratic Palestinian committee, not Hamas. Hamas says it is open to the idea, but many details still need to be worked out.

disarmament

Under Mr. Trump’s plan, Hamas would have to lay down its weapons. Its members will ask for amnesty or leave Gaza for exile abroad. It is a key demand of Israel, but Hamas officials have expressed serious reservations about this in the past.

An international security mission

The American framework calls for the formation of an “international stabilization force” to deal with security in Gaza after the war. This is not in the current agreement. But even this possibility raises huge questions: which countries will send their forces, how they will carry out their missions, and whether they will be effective.

Complete Israeli withdrawal

The current agreement leaves out the deployment of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. It is not at all clear when or under what circumstances Israel might finally agree to withdraw its forces from Gaza.