Gaza peace deal signed off: Hamas will be the greatest loser from peace with Israel

A peace agreement to end the war between Israel and Hamas would be a victory for Israelis, Gazans, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.

The greatest immediate loser would be Hamas, the terrorist group and initiator of the war that would have to give up power and weapons under conditions imposed by Israeli negotiators.

The terms have not been made public. Previous ceasefires have failed to hold because of alleged breaches on both sides.

In this case, the accelerated timeline for release of Jewish hostages and Palestinian prisoners and Mr Trump’s stated intention to travel to the Middle East this weekend are creating a momentum for peace that may be hard to derail.

Hamas said both sides’ prisoners would be exchanged within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation — a breakthrough that would allow both sides to claim victory.

The likely toughest part of the agreement would be the voluntary removal of Hamas from power and the transfer of its weapons to another organisation. On this fundamental step — essentially Hamas’s surrender — there is no confirmation.

Mr Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas’ removal is non-negotiable, no matter how many civilians have to die to eliminate Israel’s enemy from the Gaza Strip. It would be hard to imagine him signing a deal that keeps Hamas in power.

Jerusalem greeting

Mr Trump, who might now be a contender for a Nobel peace prize, told an Israeli journalist he plans to be in the country in coming days. He will, no doubt, receive a warm greeting.

“My conversation with Bibi was great,” the president said. “He is happy – and rightfully so. This is a big achievement.”

Given a Hamas leader boasted as recently as two weeks ago the war had created a “golden opportunity” for the Palestinians by turning world opinion against Israel, a peace deal on Israel’s terms is indeed a significant achievement. It may be seen as a rebuke of the Western countries, including Australia, which turned away from Israel, diplomatically, at the United Nations two weeks ago.

Hamas agreed to peace under the threat of more extreme violence from the Israel Defence Forces, not because the Palestinian Authority will be allowed to open embassies in Canberra, Paris, London or Ottawa.

In an interview with Fox News, Mr Trump promised the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which he said would be done with the help of other countries in the region. “Gaza is going to be a peaceful and much safer place,” he said.

It was the middle of the night in Gaza, and a lack of electricity meant many people had not heard that their immediate suffering might be about to end. Some did, though, and came out on to the streets to celebrate.

Across the border in Israel, people emerged from the darkness too, hoping their citizens will soon escape from their hell.