How Trump shaped the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal

After days of increasing optimism, Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani summoned the press last night to announce that Israel and Hamas had agreed on a ceasefire and hostage deal. In the hours since, Israel has accused Hamas of backtracking on the agreement and dozens of people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza. A planned cabinet vote on the deal in Israel has been pushed back, yet Hamas insists it is still committed to the agreement, which is due to come into effect on Sunday.

The deal is complicated, delicate and full of moving parts. Phase one will see Hamas release 33 hostages, both living and dead: the old, the sick and women, including female soldiers. In return, Israel will release hundreds of terrorists including murderers, implement a six-week ceasefire in Gaza, withdraw from parts of the Strip and allow more aid to flow.

During that ceasefire, the parties will negotiate phase two, which would include releasing all remaining hostages, a major Israeli withdrawal, an end to the war and the beginning of reconstruction, presumably with Hamas leaders going into exile and an alternative government ruling Gaza.