February 2 (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war was given a boost on Monday with the reopening of the Rafah enclave crossing with Egypt. But difficult questions remain unaddressed, including whether Hamas will disarm.
Trump’s plan, now in its second phase, has been shaken by repeated Israeli attacks that have killed hundreds in Gaza, as well as resistance from Hamas militants to lay down their weapons. Israeli officials say they are preparing for a return to war if Hamas refuses to disarm.
Below is background on Trump’s plan as well as key issues that remain to be resolved.
WHAT IS TRUMP’S PLAN FOR GAZA?
In September, Trump outlined a 20-point plan for an initial truce, followed by steps toward a broader resolution.
In the end he asks for Hamas to disarm and not have any leadership role in Gaza, for Israel to withdraw its forces, and for a wide reconstruction of the territory under international supervision.
The plan has been widely endorsed internationally, although the sides have not yet fully agreed on everything in it. On October 9, Israel and Hamas signed a cease-fire agreement covering the first phase of the plan. This included a ceasefire, the release of all hostages remaining in Gaza in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a partial Israeli withdrawal, an increase in aid and the reopening of the Rafah crossing.
The Trump plan was also approved by a United Nations Security Council resolution that authorized a transitional leadership body and an international stabilization force in Gaza.
WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW? The cease-fire came into effect on 10 October and ended the large-scale fighting, although the fighting did not stop entirely. Gaza health authorities say at least 488 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October 10, and Israel’s military says four soldiers have been killed by militants in that time.
Israeli forces have pulled back and suspended ground attacks, but still control 53% of Gaza, including ruined towns along the Israeli and Egyptian borders where they demolished remaining buildings and ordered residents out.
This means that almost all of Gaza’s more than 2 million people are now confined to a piece of territory on the coast, where Hamas has reasserted control. Most residents live in damaged buildings or makeshift tents.
Palestinian groups and aid agencies said Israel is still not allowing supplies into Gaza at the rate agreed under the first phase of the deal. Israel says it is meeting those commitments.
Anti-Hamas armed Palestinian groups set up bases in Israeli-held parts of Gaza; Hamas dismisses them as collaborators without popular support.
The two sides showed little sign of abating their disputes over steps to be taken in the next phase, which envisages the disarmament of Hamas, further withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of peacekeepers.
WHAT IS EXPECTED IN THE SECOND PHASE? Despite large gaps between Israel and Hamas, Washington launched the second phase of the plan after the New Year, announcing the establishment of a committee of Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza.
They will be overseen by a “Peace Board” of foreign dignitaries led by Trump, who initially proposed to address the Gaza war and has since said he will also address other conflicts.
The second phase of the plan also includes Hamas giving up its weapons and Gaza being demilitarized, in exchange for Israel to fully withdraw its troops.
The militant group is still believed to possess rockets, which many diplomats have estimated to number in the hundreds. He is also estimated to possess thousands of small arms, including rifles.
Hamas recently agreed to discuss disarmament with other Palestinian factions and mediators, sources said. However, two Hamas officials told Reuters that neither Washington nor the mediators presented the group with any detailed or concrete disarmament proposal.
Two senior Israeli officials told Reuters that the military was preparing to return to war if Hamas did not surrender its weapons and that it did not expect the militants to disarm without the use of force.
Hamas is also seeking to incorporate its 10,000 police officers into the new technocrat-led government in Gaza, sources said, a claim opposed by Israel.
WHICH OTHER ISSUES WERE NOT PAID?
An international stabilization force is intended to ensure security and peace in Gaza. But its composition, role and mandate are all up in the air.
The Palestinian Authority, which is internationally recognized and exercises limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is supposed to carry out unspecified reforms before ultimately taking a role in Gaza. But the details were not explained.
Plans have yet to be drawn up to finance and oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner this month laid out plans for a “New Gaza” to be rebuilt from scratch, with computer-generated images of gleaming residential towers, data centers and industrial zones.
The plan did not address property rights or compensation for Palestinians who lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods during the war, nor did it explain where displaced Palestinians could live during rebuilding.
Many Israelis and Palestinians suspect that Trump’s plan will never be fully implemented and a frozen conflict will continue indefinitely.
(Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Rami Ayyub Editing by Peter Graff)