Ceasefire between Israel, Hamas provides some relief to both Israelis, Palestinians
Date
1/30/2025 3:09:29 AM
(MENAFN) The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has provided some relief to both Israelis and Palestinians, but the real challenges lie ahead. The focus now is on what comes next, especially if the planned exchange of prisoners and hostages proceeds as agreed, though there are significant uncertainties. One major concern is the exchange process itself, particularly on the Palestinian side. Up to 10,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli detention centers, and many of these individuals, including children, have neither been charged nor sentenced. Questions surrounding the actual number of prisoners, their locations, and whether Israel will release them could delay the process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports only the first phase of the agreement, which involves a ceasefire and a preliminary exchange of prisoners for hostages. However, the second phase, which calls for a permanent halt to hostilities and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, remains uncertain. Netanyahu’s chief of staff, Yossi Fuchs, has stated that if progress toward the second phase falters, the fighting could resume to achieve the war’s original objectives: the military and civilian defeat of Hamas and the full release of Israeli hostages. Even if a deal on the second phase is reached, numerous details will need to be addressed. Former U.S. Foreign Affairs official Ivo Dalder raised critical questions: Who will govern Gaza after the conflict? Who will finance the rebuilding process and address the region’s severe humanitarian needs, including food, housing, jobs, education, and medical care? There is also the concern of dealing with criminals who may exploit the region’s instability.
Post-war governance could spark further conflict, particularly between the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank and Hamas. Although Hamas has been weakened, it still maintains significant control in Gaza, potentially challenging the PA’s authority if it attempts to govern the region. The ceasefire agreement does not address governance in Gaza, and while PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s office has claimed jurisdiction over the Strip, there are no provisions in the ceasefire for PA involvement in its administration. PA Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has indicated that the PA is prepared with a "hundred days plan" to implement after the ceasefire ends.
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