Israel and the Hamas militant group have agreed to a cease-fire and for troops to begin a phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, with a goal of ending hostilities. While Israel plans to reduce the number of its troops in the region, it is expected that fighting will continue through 2024. The Israeli withdrawal will begin with the reduction of troops in the northern and eastern part of the Gaza Strip, while Israeli special forces such as the Shin Bet counter-terrorism unit will remain in the south. Israel will also continue to control the air, sea and land borders of Gaza. The cease-fire agreement also includes the release of dozens of Palestinian prisoners, which could lead to further easing of tensions. In contrast, Hamas has promised to start rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure and to cut down on protests near the security barrier. It remains to be seen if the agreement will stick or if peace will prevail in the Gaza Strip.
