TODAY ISRAEL AGREED to an “unlimited” truce in Gaza.

The agreement brings to an end a 50-day conflict that claimed the lives of over 2,000 people.

But, what has been agreed? And what remains to be resolved?

In essence, the conflict is extremely complicated, but both sides have undertaken to address some of the thornier issues at the heart of the tensions.

In the immediate term, the Egytpian-brokered deal agrees:

• Hamas and other Gazan militants will cease rocket fire into Israel
• Israel will cease all military operations in Gaza
• Israel and Egypt will both open their border crossings with Gaza
• Israel will allow rebuilding materials and humanitarian aid into battered Gaza
• The Palestinian Authority, run from the West Bank by Mahmoud Abbas, will control the Gaza border crossing with Israel
• The PA will also lead the rebuilding effort
• Israel will roll back the security buffer inside the Gaza border from 300 metres to 100 metres
• Israel will double Gaza’s fishing limit from three coastal miles to six

In the long-term, the two sides have agreed to negotiate:

• Hamas wants prisoners arrested in the aftermath of the murder of three Israeli teens, one of the events that led to the war
• Likewise, Abbas wants freedom for a number of Palestinian prisoners
• Israel wants the body parts, equipment and personal items of soldiers killed in Gaza during the war to be returned
• Hamas wants a seaport built in Gaza. Israel is against this idea, but may acquiesce as part of long-term peace negotiations
• Hamas also wants the Gaza airport – shut down after Israeli bombing in 2000 – rebuilt
• Hamas also wants bank accounts unfrozen, to allow it pay salaries of 40,000 civil servants

Egypt’s foreign ministry said that negotiations will begin within a month on the outstanding issues.

Read: “I don’t want to live through a fourth war.” – Gaza erupts in peace celebrations

Read: Israel accepts “unlimited” truce with Gaza >

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