🔗 Share this article

Hamas's limited endorsement toward the US president's Gaza ceasefire deal last Friday has been met with worldwide approval representing the nearest the two warring sides have come in two years toward stopping the conflict within the Gaza Strip.

How Near Is a Deal?

The Palestinian faction's incomplete backing of the US proposal marks the nearest mediators have reached over the last several months toward a full end of the conflict in Gaza. Nevertheless, they are still distant from an agreement.

The US president's multi-point plan to stop the war stipulates for the group release every captive over 72 hours, surrender governing authority to a transnational council led by the US president, and disarm. In return, Israeli forces would slowly withdraw its soldiers from the Gaza Strip and return over 1,000 detainees.

This agreement would also bring a surge of relief supplies to Gaza, some areas of which are experiencing food shortages, and rebuilding money to the Palestinian territory, which has been nearly completely devastated.

The organization only agreed to three points: the freeing of every captive, the surrendering of control and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas stated the remaining parts of the deal would have to be discussed alongside additional Palestinian factions, as it is part of a joint national approach.

In practice, this implies the group seeks further negotiations on the thornier parts of the US plan, specifically the demand for its disarmament, and a definite schedule on Israel’s withdrawal.

When and Where Will Negotiations Occur?

Negotiators have traveled to Cairo to hammer out specifics to narrow the gap between Israel and Hamas.

Negotiations will start tomorrow and it is anticipated to produce conclusions in the coming days, whether positive or negative.

Trump shared an image of a map of Gaza on Saturday night that showed the boundary up to which Israeli troops ought to pull back stating if the group consents to it, that the ceasefire would start immediately. The US president is eager to conclude the war as it comes to its two year mark and before the Nobel committee announces the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in October, which is a frequently mentioned obsession for him.

Benjamin Netanyahu announced a deal to bring Israeli captives home would ideally take place in the coming days.

What Gaps Remain?

Both Hamas and Israel have been cautious their positions heading into the talks.

Hamas has consistently refused to give up its weapons in past negotiations. It has provided no word whether its stance has changed regarding this issue, even as it principally agrees to Trump’s plan, with conditions. Trump and Israel have made it clear that there exists limited flexibility on the disarmament issue and are determined to bind Hamas through firm wording in any agreement going forward.

The militant faction additionally stated it agreed to surrendering power over Gaza to a technocratic governing force, as outlined in the US proposal. However, in its announcement, Hamas clarified it would agree to a Gaza-based expert-led administration, rather than the global authority proposed by Trump in the proposal.

Israel has also sought to keep the matter of its troop withdrawal unclear. Just hours following the announcement of Trump’s plan during a shared media briefing in the US capital last week, Netanyahu released a recording reassuring Israelis that troops would remain in most of Gaza.

Last Saturday evening, Netanyahu reiterated that forces would stay inside Gaza, saying that hostages would be released as the Israeli military would remain within Gaza's interior.

Netanyahu’s position seemingly stands against the stipulation in Trump’s plan that Israeli troops completely pull out from the territory. Hamas will demand reassurances that Israeli forces will completely leave and that if the group surrenders its arms, Israeli forces will not re-enter Gaza.

Mediators must bridge these differences, securing firm, unambiguous terms on disarmament from the group. They must also show to Hamas that Israel will genuinely pull out from Gaza and that there are global assurances that will force the Israeli state to adhere with the conditions of the deal.

The disagreements might be resolved, and the US will undoubtedly pressure the two sides to achieve a deal. However, negotiations have come near to a deal previously abruptly failing several times over the last 24 months, leaving both parties cautious of declaring victory prior to a formal agreement.