Israel has received US guarantees that it will be allowed to take military action in response to any violations of the hostage and ceasefire deal that endanger its security.
According to Israeli and American diplomatic officials, the understanding is that if Hamas, or any of the other terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, seriously breaches a key principle of the Trump plan in a way that poses a security threat, Israel will be able to respond militarily, with US support.
This understanding constitutes a side agreement between Jerusalem and Washington that aligns with the Trump plan's framework. Both the mediators and Hamas have been informed of this agreement. According to the officials, the participation and signatures of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in the Sharm el-Sheikh negotiations are significant, as it will be harder for Hamas to shift blame to "rogue factions."
Hamas, for its part, received assurances from the mediators that fighting would not resume, though it failed to secure a Security Council resolution to that effect.
A diplomatic source involved in the negotiations said that while the first night was tense, the atmosphere improved the following day when it became clear that Hamas was not conditioning a ceasefire or the release of hostages on commitments related to Phase B.
Broad Israeli withdrawal
On the second day of talks, during Sukkot, most technical aspects of Phase A were finalized. When senior officials arrived on Wednesday, including the Qatari prime minister, the head of Turkish intelligence, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Egyptian officials made clear that the deal would be wrapped that day. A key sticking point was Hamas' demand for a broader Israeli withdrawal beyond the so-called "yellow line." Discussions on this issue continued for several hours, with maps passed on for approval by military officials. Ultimately, changes were agreed upon that were deemed to have minimal security implications.
As an anecdote, perhaps in honor of the Turkish delegation, Turkish delight (rahat lokum) was served in the negotiation rooms later that evening as it became clear the talks were nearing conclusion. Once the deal was finalized, an Egyptian representative and the Qatari prime minister asked the delegations to convene in the main hall, where handshakes and occasional hugs were exchanged. The Hamas delegation was positioned far from the Israeli one, though still in the same large hall. Hamas officials showed one another videos of celebrations in Gaza's streets once it was clear the agreement had been reached.
