Ceasefire Gaza Agreement Phases: Will it Bring the Peace?

Hamas and Israel have come to terms on a ceasefire Gaza agreement after over 460 days of warfare that has crippled Gaza. This is as reported by the United States, Qatar, and Israel. Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed announced that the ceasefire Gaza would go into effect on Sunday. He also said that several procedural agreements with Israel and Hamas were being arranged. However, he estimated that an Israeli government vote would occur that Thursday.

There will be the release of both Israeli and Gazan prisoners as part of the agreement. Meanwhile, the bloodshed in Gaza will come to an end. Palestinians who have been displaced will finally be able to return to their homes, even if most of their homes still stand following the destruction campaign of Israel.

The First Phase of the Ceasefire Gaza Agreement

The first phase will start with a limited prisoner swap alongside the partial Israeli troop withdrawal and a massive increase in aid to the Gaza region. The Israeli army has stated that this phase will last for six weeks.

Let me give more context to what happened on October 7, 2023. The Hamas attack on southern Israel led to the capturing of 33 Israeli civilians, including women, children, and people above 50 years of age. As a result of an agreement to provide aid to 1000 civilians who were captured in October, Palestine was also forced to make some compromises to prevent an apparent defeat. The exchange would also be beneficial for other civilians. The greater exchange will encompass the release of Palestinian civilians who are serving life sentences in Israeli prisons.

Israel is also expected to change its strategy during the prisoner exchange and move its forces from Gaza’s borders to an area roughly 700 meters inland because of the use of excessive force. 

Although the change was made in Israel, some places, like the Netzarim Corridor, were left out. However, Israel provided civilians with humanitarian help after repeatedly warning that a famine was spreading throughout the Gaza North. They allowed troops to cross the checkpoint while managing a 600-vessel control system in a single day to tackle this issue.

Israel will open the Rafah crossing with Egypt seven days after the first phase starts and will let injured Palestinians depart the Gaza Strip for medical assistance.

Second Phase

Suppose everything goes according to plan for the second stage. In that case, every other prisoner, mostly male soldiers, will be freed by Hamas in exchange for more Palestinians jailed within the Israeli prison system. As per the document currently there, Israel would withdraw completely from Gaza.

However, the conditions that remain to be voted upon by the Israeli cabinet stand in contradiction with the adamant positions of several far-right-wing cabinet members in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet. He is still advocating for their former prime minister and positions. This contrast is specifically evident, as Netanyahu has made statements about Hamas inhabiting Gaza to continue the conflict.

Third Phase

Details about a third stage are unclear. Suppose the requirements of the second stage are satisfied. In that case, the third stage will involve the transfer of the remaining hostages after implementing the rehabilitation plan, which is to be internationally supervised and will last between three and five years.

It has not been agreed on who will control Gaza in the events that follow the ceasefire Gaza. The US has advocated for a new version of the Palestinian Authority to prevent it.

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