On Monday, in the first part of a cease-fire deal brokered by the White House, Hamas released all twenty living hostages that it still held following its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, while Israel released nearly two thousand Palestinian prisoners, paused strikes, and began to pull back Israeli forces within Gaza.
“A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE,” US President Donald Trump posted on social media on Tuesday. “Phase Two begins right NOW!!!”
So what should this next phase include? Who or what might play the spoiler in further peace-building efforts? And what moves should we expect from the different sides and stakeholders?
To better understand what could come next, Atlantic Council experts answer twenty pressing questions below.
1. Will Hamas return deceased hostages to Israel?
2. Will Israeli forces exit Gaza?
3. What are Gaza’s humanitarian needs—and will they be met?
4. Will Hamas renounce political power and disarm?
5. What’s next for the Abraham Accords?
6. Will Israel agree to a Palestinian state?
7. What’s coming next in the West Bank?
8. What’s the future of the Trump-Netanyahu relationship?
9. How will the far-right in Israel react?
10. Will an international security force for Gaza be created?
11. Who will be involved in the postwar governance of Gaza?
12. Will the Palestinian Authority be involved in Gaza?
13. What role will Arab states play in Gaza going forward?
14. What role will Turkey play in Gaza going forward?
15. How is Iran viewing these developments—and will it try to intervene?
16. How is Hezbollah in Lebanon reacting?
17. How are the Houthis in Yemen reacting?
18. How do Iraqi militias view the cease-fire and what is the impact on Iraq?
19. Does an end to hostilities affect cases at the International Criminal Court?
All the Answers : Here
