Will the Gaza cease-fire work?

The Heat

There’s a new cease-fire in Gaza. Will it hold? As Israeli forces pull back, what’s next for the people of the region? And why are some Arab states supporting Israel in its battle with Hamas? 

A 72 hour cease-fire between Israel and Hamas appears to be holding, for now, as Israeli forces have redeployed outside Gaza. The Egyptian-brokered deal followed a month-long battle. Israel says its core mission is now complete after destroying more than 30 tunnels used by militants in cross-border attacks and eliminating a third of an estimated 10,000 Hamas rockets.

According to the United Nations, the fighting displaced at least a quarter of a million Gaza residents. Since the conflict began on July 8th, more than 1,800 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians. Israel says it lost 64 soldiers and three civilians while its Iron Dome deflected most of the 3,500 rockets fired from Gaza.

Indirect talks between Hamas and Israel are set to begin in Cairo on a broader deal to prevent future cross-border violence. CCTV America’s Roee Ruttenberg in Tel Aviv and Noor Harazeen in Gaza City report on the latest developments and ongoing humanitarian crisis.

As the official spokesperson for the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process in the early 1990’s, and now as a member of the PLO Executive Committee, Hanan Ashrawi has come to be regarded by many as the voice of the PLO. She comments from Ramallah.

Discussing the latest cease-fire in Gaza and the future for the people of the region from Tel Aviv is the former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.