Fareed Zakaria on Gaza Ceasefire Deal: The 'Million-Dollar Question' of Governance

Key Developments in Gaza Ceasefire

• 🤝 President Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan, which includes the release of all hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal.
• ⏳ Hostage releases are anticipated for Saturday or Sunday, with a possibility of acceleration to Monday.
• 🔑 The agreement is considered a game-changer because Hamas relinquishing hostages removes their primary leverage against Israel's military superiority.

Role of Tony Blair in Postwar Gaza

• 🌟 Fareed Zakaria believes Tony Blair is well-positioned to play a key role due to his established trust with regional players and his experience as a successful prime minister.
• 💰 Gaza will require tens of billions of dollars in aid from Gulf states, the EU, and the US, making a trusted figure like Blair essential for coordination.

The Future of Hamas

• 💥 Zakaria assesses that Hamas is largely destroyed, with its military capacity and leadership significantly degraded by prolonged Israeli operations.
• ⚠️ While small militias or bands may continue to operate under the Hamas name, the organized entity that ruled Gaza is considered gone.

The 'Million-Dollar Question': Gaza's Governance

• 🤔 The most significant challenge is determining the ruling structure for Gaza, particularly regarding its relationship with the Palestinian Authority.
• ⚖️ Israel is amenable to a Palestinian technocracy not affiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, to avoid alienating right-wing coalition members who oppose a Palestinian state.
• 🌍 Arab states are willing to support a Palestinian technocracy but are unwilling to govern Gaza themselves or engage in suppressing Palestinian dissent.
• 🧩 Finding suitable Palestinian technocrats with no prior affiliation to Hamas or the PA is identified as a major stumbling block for the deal's implementation.