Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal: IDF troops pulling back from several areas

Key Concepts

• Ceasefire: A temporary cessation of fighting, confirmed between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
• IDF (Israel Defense Forces): Israel's military, maintaining positions in Gaza.
• Hamas: Palestinian Sunni-Islamist fundamentalist organization, obligated to release hostages.
• Hostages: Individuals held captive by Hamas, whose release is a key part of the deal.
• Palestinian Detainees/Security Prisoners: Palestinians held in Israeli jails, to be released in exchange for hostages.
• Demilitarization: The process of removing military forces and weapons from an area.
• Ratification: The formal approval of a treaty, constitution, or agreement.
• International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): An organization urging safe and dignified release of all captives.

Ceasefire Implementation and Israeli Stance

A ceasefire in Gaza has been confirmed and is now in effect. The Israeli military announced the completion of their withdrawal at noon local time, marking the ceasefire's commencement. However, according to a copy of the US-brokered agreement signed in Egypt, the ceasefire was meant to come into effect the moment it was ratified by the Israeli cabinet, which would have been earlier in the morning. Despite the withdrawal, Prime Minister Netanyahu stressed that the IDF will maintain positions deep inside Gaza, from "positions of strength," to ensure continued pressure on Hamas until it fully disarms and Gaza is demilitarized. Netanyahu presented this demilitarization as achievable either "the easy way" through negotiations in a second stage of the peace process, or "the hard way," implying a potential return to war.

Troop Withdrawal and IDF Control

Israeli troops have begun pulling back from parts of Gaza as part of adherence to the peace plan. Officials in Gaza confirmed withdrawals from Gaza City and Khan Younis, including districts that experienced weeks of heavy fighting. Under the deal, approved by the Israeli cabinet, the army will pull back over 24 hours to an agreed line, leaving the IDF in control of approximately half of Gaza. Despite the partial withdrawal, at least one explosion was reported, with jets flying low over Gaza and air strikes reported in the north, indicating continued instability.

Hostage Release Framework and Process

Hamas has a 72-hour window, starting from the ceasefire's effect, to release all remaining hostages. This release is a key part of the framework ratified by the Israeli cabinet.

• Living Hostages: These will be handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, who will then transfer them to Israeli forces in Gaza. Israeli forces will subsequently bring them to specially designated hospitals in Israel. A key demand from the Israeli government was that Hamas not hold ceremonies or spectacles, and the release will not be televised, unlike previous exchanges.
• Deceased Hostages: There may be some flexibility on the timeframe for releasing the bodies of deceased hostages. Hamas has informed mediators that they do not know the location of some bodies, possibly due to the deaths of their captors or bodies being buried under rubble, making them difficult to access.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has urged that all releases be conducted safely and with dignity.

Palestinian Detainee Release

In return for the hostages, Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian detainees. The Israeli government has released a list of these prisoners. The list does not include the highest-profile prisoners that Hamas reportedly pushed for during negotiations. However, it does include many individuals accused of orchestrating deadly attacks in Israel over the last few decades. The family members of the victims of those attacks were first made aware of the identities of the prisoners to be released in a process that began earlier today. These are described as "250 so-called security prisoners," most of whom are serving life sentences in Israeli jails.

Political Pressures on Netanyahu

Prime Minister Netanyahu's strong statements about maintaining pressure on Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza serve as a clear message to his far-right coalition partners, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. As recently as yesterday, these partners threatened to leave his coalition and collapse his government if Hamas was not "dismantled." Both have advocated for Israel to return to war to destroy Hamas once the Israeli hostages are released. Netanyahu's framing of an "easy way" versus a "hard way" for demilitarization directly addresses these internal political pressures.

Conclusion

The ceasefire is in effect, initiating a complex and fragile peace process involving a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops and a reciprocal exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees. While the immediate goal is the release of captives, Israel's commitment to maintaining a military presence and ensuring Hamas's disarmament underscores the conditional nature of this peace. Significant internal political pressures on Prime Minister Netanyahu, particularly from his far-right coalition, highlight the ongoing challenges and the potential for a return to conflict if the terms, especially regarding Hamas's future, are not met to Israel's satisfaction. The process of hostage and prisoner release is underway, with specific protocols established, though challenges remain, particularly concerning deceased hostages.