What's Next in Gaza? with Amit Segal

Nearly two weeks ago, Hamas and Israel agreed to a historic ceasefire that was meant to bring all the hostages home. President Donald Trump called it “the dawn of a new Middle East.”

Phase one was simple: Return all the hostages—living and dead. While we celebrate that all the living hostages have come home, 13 of the deceased remain in Gaza.

Phase two promised something even bigger: an international peacekeeping force, a transitional government of technocrats, and the disarmament of Hamas. But that now feels further away than ever.

On Sunday, Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by firing at Israeli troops and killing two soldiers. Israel responded with a wave of air strikes.

Meanwhile, Gaza is now effectively divided by a “yellow line” separating the area controlled by Hamas from the area controlled by Israel. Hamas has taken to the streets—kidnapping, torturing, and executing civilians in public—to reassert its grip on power.

Many questions linger: What is the timeline for Hamas’s disarmament—and is it even possible? Will an international security force actually be established? And will partner nations send troops who could find themselves in direct conflict with Hamas? How will Israel demand the return of the remaining deceased hostages? And will this Israeli government be able to get phase two across the finish line?

Rafaela Siewert sat down with Free Press contributor Amit Segal to answer these and many more questions about the unfolding situation.