Relief and uncertainty: Day after Donald Trump declared 'historic dawn', what next in Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire?

Two years of war. Nearly 68,000 Palestinians dead, and almost 2,000 Israelis killed. Gaza flattened and lakhs of families torn apart. Homes reduced to rubble. And on Monday, a first step in a long road: hostages were freed, and prisoners were returned. For a moment, there was relief, even hope. Relief for the families of the living hostages, hope for an end to the fighting. But the questions did not disappear with the celebrations.

Israel and Hamas took an important first step in implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Monday by releasing hostages and prisoners, raising expectations that the US-brokered deal could eventually bring a permanent end to the two-year war that devastated the Palestinian territory.

For many Israelis, the release of the 20 remaining living hostages brought relief and a sense of closure to a conflict they viewed as forced upon them by Hamas. However, several families of deceased hostages said they would continue to demand the return of their bodies from Gaza. With the living hostages now freed, the domestic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accelerate further stages of the peace plan is expected to reduce.

On Monday, Israel also received the bodies of four deceased hostages. Another 24 are expected to be returned as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which also obliges Israel to permit an increase in food supplies and other humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In Gaza, the return of prisoners released by Israel brought visible relief and some optimism that the fighting could finally subside. Yet, the suffering continues for Palestinians in the enclave. After extensive bombardment, Gaza’s infrastructure and economy have collapsed, basic public services are barely functioning, and many homes have been destroyed. The reconstruction process is expected to take years, and it remains unclear who will finance it.

The process of ending the war and securing the release of hostages required two years of negotiations and direct involvement from the American president and several Arab and Muslim leaders.

However, that may turn out to be only the beginning.

A much more difficult challenge lies ahead: convincing Hamas to surrender its weapons and demilitarize the Gaza Strip — conditions both President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed on Monday as necessary for Israel to withdraw completely from Gaza.

Unresolved questions such as whether Hamas will disarm, who will govern Gaza, and the broader issue of Palestinian statehood continue to cast uncertainty over an agreement that currently only suspends the deadliest conflict in the history of Israel and the Palestinians.

Here are some of the key questions that remain if the Trump plan is to move beyond the ceasefire.

When will Hamas return the bodies of hostages?

An immediate concern is when Hamas will return to Israel the bodies of the 28 hostages believed to have died in Gaza. Questions also remain about the health and conditions of the hostages and prisoners who were released.

Will Israel pull back fully?
At present, Israel has pulled back from Gaza’s main cities to a "yellow line," leaving it in control of about 53% of the territory. The Trump plan envisions two further stages of withdrawal — the first after the deployment of an international stabilization force, and the second leading to the establishment of a "security buffer zone."

However, Netanyahu’s recent statements suggest a different emphasis. "The IDF remains deep inside Gaza territory and controls all of its dominating points," he said last week. "We are encircling Hamas from all directions."

Will Hamas give up its weapons?
Disarmament is a central part of the Trump plan, but Hamas has rejected the idea. On Saturday, a senior Hamas official told AFP that disarmament was "out of the question," saying, "The demand that we hand over our weapons is not up for negotiation." Even as the hostage releases took place, armed Hamas fighters were seen in parts of Gaza, apparently signaling an effort to reassert their presence.

Who will govern Gaza after the guns fall silent?
According to the White House plan, the United States will "work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary international stabilisation force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza." The document adds that the force will serve as "the long-term internal security solution." This arrangement is meant to give Israel confidence that it can withdraw its forces without allowing Hamas to rebuild.

While Arab and Muslim states are expected to make up most of the ISF, key details remain uncertain — including whether the force would operate under a United Nations mandate, the terms set by contributing nations, and the scope of its authority.

Will there be a transition to Palestinian-led governance?

The White House plan was drafted without direct consultation with Palestinian civil society in Gaza. It proposes a transitional administration involving Tony Blair but does not name any credible Palestinian representative. Netanyahu appears reluctant to support the potential role of the Palestinian Authority mentioned by the US. The Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, are also viewed as unpopular among Gaza residents.

These unresolved questions underline the uncertainty surrounding the Trump plan, which for now provides only a temporary pause to the conflict rather than a definitive path to peace.