A deal has been struck, and for a moment, the guns may fall silent. The agreement announced on Saturday is a monumental achievement in de-escalation, a high price paid in diplomatic capital to purchase a pause in the fighting. But while the pause is invaluable, it’s critical to analyze what this deal doesn’t solve, as the unresolved issues pose a profound threat to any lasting peace.
The first unresolved problem is the mechanics of the pause itself. The implementation—a complex dance of hostage releases, troop movements, and political restructuring—is fraught with peril. The fragile trust underpinning the agreement could be shattered by a single logistical failure or political dispute, making the pause a fleeting moment rather than a new beginning.
The second, and more dangerous, unresolved issue is the military power of Hamas. While the international community envisions a demilitarized Palestinian state, Hamas has not agreed to give up its arsenal. The continued existence of a heavily armed Hamas, even if it’s not the governing body, creates a permanent security dilemma that makes a stable, long-term peace almost unimaginable. It’s a problem deferred, not solved.
The most significant unresolved elements are the core drivers of the conflict itself. This deal was made possible by deliberately avoiding the “final status” issues: the questions of borders, the fate of Jerusalem, the right of return for refugees, and the creation of a Palestinian state. Hamas has made it clear that these fundamental disputes will be addressed later, which all but guarantees future crises and contentious negotiations.
So while the price paid for this pause is high, and the immediate benefit of saving lives is immeasurable, the purchase is not a final peace. The agreement creates a new, temporary status quo and provides a desperately needed period of calm. However, it fails to solve the fundamental political equation. The hardest work of resolving the core conflict has been postponed, leaving a cloud of uncertainty over the region’s future.