Gaza Ceasefire Persists, But Key Issues Remain Unresolved/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Gaza ceasefire continues to hold after the release of the final hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, but major uncertainties cloud the next steps of the U.S.‑brokered plan. Questions remain over the return of deceased hostages’ bodies, Hamas disarmament, and Gaza’s future governance. Reconstruction and humanitarian challenges loom large as international actors prepare to back the next phase.
Gaza Ceasefire & U.S. Plan: Quick Looks
- Ceasefire holds after hostages and prisoner exchanges
- Hamas still to return remains of ~24 deceased hostages
- Israel enforces Gaza “yellow line,” opens fire on violations
- Egypt placing 15 technocrats in charge of Gaza’s governance
- Spain calls for accountability over Gaza’s destruction
- Red Cross warns recovering bodies harder than freeing hostages
- Released Palestinians report abuse and health damage in custody
- Gaza’s rubble estimated at 55 million tons; rebuild cost now ~$70B
- Turkish President Erdogan says the deal is ceasefire, not peace
- Erdogan pledges Turkey’s role in reconstruction and two‑state push
Deep Look
GAZA / SHARM EL SHEIKH — A fragile ceasefire in Gaza continues to hold following the release of the last remaining hostages and Palestinian prisoners. While many hail the truce as a turning point in the long-running conflict, major questions remain about the long-term viability of the U.S.-brokered peace framework and the uncertain road ahead.
The ceasefire — celebrated as a diplomatic victory for President Donald Trump — came after a historic prisoner-hostage swap that saw Hamas release 20 Israeli hostages and Israel free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Yet, while the exchange is being seen as a significant step forward, unresolved issues surrounding governance, disarmament, and reconstruction threaten to undermine the agreement’s long-term success.
Hostage Remains, Disarmament, Governance: The Core Unknowns
Though the final living hostages have been freed and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, questions linger over the 24 bodies of hostages believed dead in Gaza. Hamas has not yet returned those remains, a condition explicitly addressed in the ceasefire’s first phase.
Meanwhile, Israel insists on disarming Hamas, a demand the group has so far not fully accepted. The future governance of Gaza remains a contentious point. Israel has signaled it will not accept Hamas involvement in transitional rule, leading to competing proposals and political pushback.
In northern Gaza, Israeli troops reported opening fire Monday on individuals crossing the “yellow line” — part of Israel’s agreed pullback boundaries. Official casualties were not disclosed, but the incident underscores how tenuous the military terms remain.
Egypt’s 15‑Member Committee, Reconstruction Plans
On the diplomatic front, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty announced a 15-member committee of Palestinian technocrats has been vetted by Israel and approved by Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to administer Gaza during the transition. These technocrats will manage daily life under oversight from a “Board of Peace”, chaired by President Trump, to direct reconstruction funds and ensure financial flows.
Abdelatty urged full compliance:
“This committee will be responsible for managing daily life in Gaza, with oversight from the newly established Board of Peace, chaired by President Trump,” said Abdelatty. He added that all major Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have agreed to the structure and have committed to stepping aside during the transition.
“Israel should comply with withdrawal, allow flow of aid, and deploy the administrative committee … Hamas must honor commitments.”
He also confirmed Egypt will host an international reconstruction conference alongside the U.S. and Germany.
Spain Demands Accountability
In Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for legal recourse for the devastation in Gaza. He argued that despite the truce, there can be no impunity for those responsible. He referenced existing International Criminal Court indictments linked to Israel’s wartime conduct, stating:
“There must be no impunity,” Sánchez said, citing open cases at the International Criminal Court regarding Israel’s conduct during the conflict. He referred to actions taken by the Israeli government as “genocide” — repeating a charge he has made in previous weeks.
“Peace cannot mean forgetting. There must be accountability.”
Red Cross: Retrieving Bodies More Difficult Than Releasing Hostages
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cautioned that recovering remains in Gaza presents far greater challenges than freeing captive individuals. Christian Cardon, an ICRC official, spoke from Geneva:
“The search for human remains is obviously an even bigger challenge … decontaminating rubble, identifying remains amid unexploded ordinances, those are huge obstacles.”
While four remains were returned Monday, Cardon acknowledged that some may never be found.
Freed Palestinians Report Harsh Detention Conditions
Several Palestinians released from Israeli prisons on Monday described harsh and often violent conditions during their incarceration. At least 14 former detainees were hospitalized in the West Bank for injuries allegedly sustained while in custody.
One former prisoner, Kamal Abu Shanab, said he endured untreated injuries for months. “I was beaten on the shoulder, and for eight months, I wasn’t even given a painkiller,” he claimed.
Israeli officials denied any wrongdoing, stating that all prisoners are treated in accordance with legal standards and have access to medical care. However, the allegations are consistent with previous reports by human rights organizations documenting abuse in Israeli prisons.
Gaza’s Ruins Compared to 13 Great Pyramids
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Gaza’s destruction is on a scale rarely seen in modern conflict. Officials estimate that 55 million tons of rubble now cover the territory — enough, they say, to build 13 Egyptian pyramids or stack 12 meters of debris across all of Central Park in New York City.
The estimated cost for full reconstruction has surged to $70 billion, up from $53 billion earlier this year. Roughly $20 billion will be needed in the next three years alone, with the rest required over decades. Funding will be sought from international donors including Arab nations, the U.S., and the European Union.
Erdogan Says Ceasefire Is Not Peace — Yet
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan clarified that while the agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh is an important development, it should not be mistaken for a peace deal.
“This is a ceasefire framework, not a final settlement,” Erdogan said during his return from the summit. He reiterated Turkey’s stance that a two-state solution recognizing Palestinian sovereignty remains the only viable long-term path to peace.
Erdogan called on the United States and other international powers to pressure Israel to uphold its end of the deal, warning that Israel has a history of failing to honor ceasefire commitments.
While Erdogan did not confirm whether Turkish forces would participate in any international peacekeeping mission in Gaza, he emphasized Turkey’s willingness to contribute to humanitarian efforts — including possibly deploying modular container homes to house displaced civilians.
What Comes Next?
Though the ceasefire is holding, the path forward is riddled with uncertainty:
- Disarmament of Hamas remains a central sticking point. While the group agreed in principle to Trump’s plan, it has yet to publicly commit to fully disarming or renouncing its role in governing Gaza.
- Israel’s political climate is also complicating matters. With elections approaching, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces internal pressure from right-wing members of his coalition, some of whom oppose the ceasefire altogether.
- Palestinian political unity remains fragile, even as factions tentatively back the new transitional committee.
- International trust-building and donor support will be essential to ensure long-term reconstruction, development, and peace enforcement.
The agreement may have paused the violence, but much remains unresolved. Diplomats and analysts caution that without clear enforcement mechanisms and strong international backing, the ceasefire could deteriorate. For now, the region watches and waits — hopeful, but wary — as one of the world’s most intractable conflicts enters a new chapter.
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