Israel and the Palestinians agreed on Tuesday to an Egyptian-brokered plan to end the deadly fighting in Gaza. Both sides agreed to address more complex issues, but here are some of the broad parameters of the agreement:
Immediate steps
- Both sides to end military action
- Israel agrees to open more border crossings with Gaza to allow the easier flow of goods
- Egypt to open its border with Gaza at Rafah
- The Palestinian Authority (PA), which is headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, will take over operation of Gaza's borders from Hamas - a bid to reduce weapons smuggling
- The PA will lead the internationally funded reconstruction effort in Gaza
- Israel to narrow the security buffer along the inside of the Gaza border, to allow Palestinians more access to farm land
- Israel will extend fishing limits off Gaza's coast
Longer-term issues
- Hamas wants Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners rounded up in the West Bank following the abduction and killing of three Jewish students in June; Abbas wants freedom for other long-serving Palestinian prisoners
- Israel wants Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza to hand over all body parts and personal effects of dead Israeli soldiers
- Hamas wants a sea port built in Gaza; The PA wants the restoration of its airport, which opened in 1998 but was bombed by Israel in 2000
- Hamas wants the un-freezing of funds to allow it to pay 40,000 police and government workers who have largely been without salaries since late last year.
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