What Happened: Egypt has reportedly brokered an informal agreement between Hamas and Israel to end attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip in exchange for permitting aid into the Palestinian territory, Al Hayat reported Oct. 25.
Why It Matters: The reported agreement is the result of months of delicate negotiations among Israel, Egypt, Qatar, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, but peace will be difficult to maintain. Israel will allow humanitarian aid into Gaza in exchange for an end to violent attacks from the area, but weekly Palestinian protests will be allowed to continue as long as no attempt is made to breach the border with Israel.
Background: Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have conducted weekly protests at the border fence with Israel that have often resulted in violence from both sides. The United Nations brokered an agreement in September to allow aid into the Gaza Strip, but Israel has blocked much of the aid due to alleged attacks from the area.
Read More:
- Israel, Palestinian Territories: Conflict Intensifies in the Gaza Strip (July 20, 2018)
- Gaza Looks Out Onto a Changing Middle East (May 16, 2018)
- Palestinian Territories: A Meeting Brings More Distance (Feb. 13, 2018)
