On October 7, 2023, Israel’s territories along the Gaza border were attacked by Hamas militants, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Now, two years and 65,000 Palestinian deaths later, the remaining living Israeli hostages have finally been returned. 

The hostage-prisoner exchange is the first phase of a twenty-point plan put forward earlier this month designed to bring, in the words of President Trump, “strong, durable, and everlasting peace” to Israel and Palestine. The plan, drafted by Egyptian, Turkish, Qatari and U.S. officials has been agreed to by both Hamas and the Israeli parliament. Essential elements of the treaty include the return of the aforementioned hostages, basis for a temporary government in Gaza, an Israeli commitment to allow humanitarian aid into the region and a plan to rehabilitate the economy and infrastructure of the Gaza Strip. Any members of Hamas who desire amnesty will agree to disarm and “commit to peaceful coexistence.” Additionally, the Israeli Defense Force is to gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip. 

The twenty-point plan’s promise to bring immediate relief to the region is clear, but the outline for the governance and redevelopment of Gaza is uncertain. A “Board of Peace” is to be established; led by President Trump, a committee of Palestinians and “International Experts,” the Board will be responsible for the day-to-day affairs of Gaza. Once the Peace Board has completed its objectives, control will be turned over to the Palestinian Authority, a group with historic ties to the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Hamas and “other factions” agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza. The period of time for which the Peace Board will govern is not explicitly mentioned in the deal.

Additionally a “Trump economic development plan” is to be adopted, designed to attract international investment through free economic zones. Although the name implies the economic plan will align with the President’s policies, neither he nor anyone else is specifically appointed to implement the scheme. Gaza City will be rebuilt in the model of “the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East” by a panel of simply stated: “Experts.” The finer details of governance and economic development in the Gaza Strip are not stated in the plan and will likely adapt as the situation develops.

Hamas’ compliance with the deal, and their commitment to withdraw from the governance of Gaza is already in doubt. Since the ceasefire, Hamas has conducted public executions of political rivals, as well as resumed patrols in Gaza City in an attempt to assert control. Furthermore, Israel is unsatisfied with the slow pace at which Hamas  is returning the bodies of deceased hostages. Believing that Hamas is not upholding their obligations of the peace deal, the Israeli government has threatened to limit the amount of aid entering Gaza until the bodies are returned. As for the long term “de-radicalization” of Gaza, governance by the Palestinian Authority promises little in the way of changing the existing power structures within Gaza. That being said, there are notable similarities between the Gaza peace plan and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which effectively ended religious violence between Protestant Unionists and Catholic Nationalists in Northern Ireland. Hopefully, the success of the Good Friday Agreement will be replicated in Gaza.

As the brutality of the October 7 attacks still loom large in the minds of Israelis, the nation is aware that it is likely that only the complete destruction of Hamas will extinguish the wheel of fire. Even then, much of the Arab world does not accept the existence of an Israeli state, nor will they soon forget the destruction brought upon the Gaza Strip. Still, the hostages have been returned and for now, the dust in Gaza settles.