Will weapons soon be silent?: Gaza agreement: Israel sees problems clarifying details

As the war continues to rage in the Gaza Strip, Israeli officials say there is trouble in the final detailed discussions about a ceasefire. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas refuses to agree to parts of the agreement, which also provides for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The Islamists’ aim is to “extort concessions at the last minute.” Hamas rejected the allegations.

A member of the Hamas Politburo, Issat al-Rishk, said on the Telegram platform in response to the Israeli accusations that Hamas stands by the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators.

Key points of the agreement

The agreement between Israel and Hamas announced by Qatar on Wednesday evening is scheduled to come into force on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. CET and will initially be valid for 42 days. During this time there will be a ceasefire and initially 33 of the 98 remaining hostages held by Hamas will be released. In return for this, according to Israeli sources, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.

In addition, the important Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is to be reopened, humanitarian aid for the Palestinians is to be increased and Israel’s army is to withdraw from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip. The residents who fled to the south of the coastal strip should be allowed to move freely in the coastal area again and return to their residential areas in the north under international supervision.

What happens from week seven? Details must be negotiated

It remains uncertain whether the ceasefire, initially agreed for six weeks, will also bring about a permanent end to the war. The conflicting parties want to agree on details of a second and third phase of the agreement during the first phase. Among other things, there is disagreement over the question of who should govern the Gaza Strip in the future. It is also unclear whether both sides will stick to the agreed steps in the coming weeks. If the agreement fails, the fighting is likely to continue.

There is already trouble in the final discussions on the first phase. Israeli media reported that the Israeli negotiating team is currently working out further details. According to Israeli sources, there is still a dispute over which Palestinian prisoners should be released in return for the hostages.

Cabinet in Israel must approve deal

The Israeli Cabinet will only meet to approve the deal “when mediators inform Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement,” Netanyahu’s office said. The meeting was previously scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. (CET).

According to the Israeli broadcaster Kan, one reason for the postponement is that the right-wing extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich did not initially inform Netanyahu whether his party wanted to leave the government in protest against the planned agreement. He is therefore insisting on a guarantee that the fighting in the Gaza Strip will continue after the first phase.

Hundreds of Israelis demonstrate against the agreement

Observers see Netanyahu under pressure. Several far-right politicians in Israel are against the agreement and are threatening to leave the coalition. The deal is expected to be approved by the Security Cabinet and then the full Cabinet despite opposition.

According to the media, hundreds of people demonstrated against the agreement in Israel. In the past, there had been mass protests again and again, sometimes with tens of thousands of participants, to demand an agreement.

Palestinians: Dozens dead in Israeli attacks in Gaza

According to Palestinian reports, Israel’s army continues to massively attack targets in the Gaza Strip. Since the agreement was announced by the mediating state of Qatar on Wednesday evening, more than 70 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the coastal area, according to a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Civil Defense. This should also include minors and women. Most of the deaths occurred in the city of Gaza. The information could not initially be independently verified.

Israel’s army always emphasizes that it is taking measures to protect civilians in the fight against the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas.

Baerbock: Almost tears in my eyes again

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was touched by the agreement on a ceasefire and the hostage deal. “I received such moving news last night. It almost brought tears to my eyes again,” said the Green politician in the ARD “Morgenmagazin”. The Europeans could help bring humanitarian aid into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, she said. “The border crossing is damaged. The EU could provide support for this.”

Waiting for the Rafah border crossing to open

According to security circles, Egypt wants to reopen the important border crossing “in the coming hours”. The Palestinian side was also instructed to prepare the crossing for the import of urgently needed aid supplies. According to an Egyptian Red Crescent representative in North Sinai, around 600 trucks carrying relief supplies have been prepared for entry into Gaza.

Israel’s army occupied the Rafah border crossing on the Palestinian side in May last year. Shortly afterwards, aid deliveries from Egypt stopped arriving in the sealed-off coastal area via Rafah.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza was already very bad before the war began in October 2023 and has worsened dramatically as a result of Israel’s massive bombings. According to the UN, more than 90 percent of the two million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip suffer from severe hunger. There is also a lack of drinking water, emergency accommodation and medicines.

Because of the closure of the Rafah crossing, relief supplies in recent months have only come through Israeli-controlled crossings such as Kerem Shalom, Eretz and Kissufim. Aid deliveries were repeatedly looted after they entered the Gaza Strip.