Gaza cease-fire, prisoner swap and seaport: Details of Israel-Hamas deal emerge

Yahya Sinwar, leader of the Hamas Islamist movement in Gaza

Noa Landau and Jack Khoury write in Haaretz, “A deal negotiated between Israel and Hamas via UN and Egyptian mediation,
whose first stage went into effect on Wednesday, entails a commitment to rebuild the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure and a prisoner swap to secure the release of Israeli civilians and soldiers’ remains held by the Palestinian organization. The terms are essentially identical to those established after the 2014 war in Gaza and are similar to those agreed upon after the 2012 military campaign in the Strip. Defense officials and the Prime Minister’s Office thus prefer to refer to it as a return to the status quo before the escalation in tensions that began several months ago, with the start of weekly protests at the Gaza-Israel.”

Binyamin Netanyahu on way to Security Cabinet

“Three senior Israeli officials told Haaretz that the understanding includes six main clauses to be implemented gradually provided that peace is fully maintained: A comprehensive cease-fire; the reopening of Gaza’s border  crossings and expansion of the permitted fishing zone; medical and humanitarian assistance; a resolution to the issue of captive soldiers, missing civilians and prisoners; a broad reconstruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, with foreign funding; and discussions about sea and air ports in Gaza.” (more…)