Gaza truce: Is there a winner?

Israel and Hamas have agreed to end 50 days of fighting, signing up to an Egyptian-brokered plan for an open-ended truce and a commitment for further indirect talks on more complex issues.

Gaza’s rulers Hamas are claiming a victory for resistance while Israel insists the group did not get anything it wanted.

The breakthrough was negotiated by Egypt. Hamas and other armed groups are to halt all rocket and mortar fire into Israel, while Israel has agreed to stop all military operations and air strikes. Israel has agreed to open its main border crossings with Gaza and Egypt is to open its Rafah border.

The Palestinian Authority is expected to take over responsibility for Gaza’s borders from Hamas. And Gaza’s fishing zone has been extended from around five kilometres to around 10. Other key demands are to be discussed within a month.

They include the release of Palestinian prisoners, Hamas calls for a sea port and the reopening its main airport, and Israeli demands for all fighting groups in Gaza to disarm.

This ceasefire has come at an enormous price, in terms of lives lost, in economic terms, as well as political fallout. So has either side achieved its objectives? And can either side really claim a victory?

Presenter: Laura Kyle

Guests:

Gil Hofman – chief political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post.

Samer Badawi – a contributor to +972 Magazine, and a former executive director of the United Palestine Appeal.

Daniel Levy – director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.