But there remains a huge lack of clarity and detail about the future of the strip and the 2.1 million Palestinians who live there. Furthermore, there are many pitfalls. First, Trump's plan demands that Hamas, as well as other groups in Gaza, agree to disarm. Announcing phase two of the deal, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said failure to do so would "bring serious consequences". But Hamas has so far adamantly refused to give up its weapons, which it sees as tools of resistance to Israel's decades-long military occupation. If it maintains that position, there are already far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government who are champing at the bit to resume the war and "finish the job". While massively diminished militarily, US intelligence has long estimated that Hamas has likely recruited more new members in Gaza than have been killed by Israel during the war. The ceasefire, which has been in place since October last year, is already fragile at best. Both sides have accused each other of repeated violations. More than 450 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since it came into force, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The Israeli military says three of its soldiers have been killed in attacks by Palestinian armed groups during the same period.

Secondly, there is little clarity over to what extent Israel will be required to withdraw its forces from Gaza. It has given no indication that it is willing to pull back completely, insisting it needs to maintain a strong security presence in Gaza. Israel officials talk of "a new reality" in Gaza, insisting that the strip will never go back to the way it was before Hamas launched its deadly attack on 7 October 2023. So, there could be continued wrangling over how far Israeli forces withdraw. (BBC)