Tough rhetoric and domestic pressure on Netanyahu are now anticipated as Israel’s parliament begins its winter session, and with an internal election due within the prime minister’s Likud party.
Netanyahu directed the military to take “strong action” against breaches of the deal, but he refrained from threatening a return to war.
On the Palestinian side, Hamas spokesman Mohammed Nazzal has called for the speedy approval of a committee of politically independent Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza, telling Al Jazeera that Hamas had submitted a list of more than 40 proposed names to mediators.
However, in a separate interview with Reuters, he indicated that Hamas intended to maintain security control in Gaza for an interim period, illustrating another major obstacle to cementing the full end of the war in Gaza.
In the US, Vice President JD Vance has downplayed the shakiness of the ceasefire, saying: “There’s going to be fits and starts.” It was, he said, “the best chance for a sustainable peace”.
Meanwhile, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to go on to further meetings in Cairo. There are significant obstacles to overcome before there can be more celebrations over the Gaza ceasefire.