The Gaza Ceasefire: What’s Next?

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict once again rose to the international agenda in May, as Israel and Hamas engaged in a bloody 11-day war. Following a tense confrontation between Israeli police and Palestinian protestors at the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound, Hamas militants in Gaza fired long-range rockets toward Jerusalem. Over the next 11 days, Israel carried out air strikes aimed at Hamas military infrastructure and Hamas fired rockets into Israel – at least 230 Palestinians and 12 Israelis were killed.

On May 21, the fighting stopped when a ceasefire mediated by the Egyptian government took effect. This panel welcomes Ambassador Motaz Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt to the United States, to discuss Egypt’s role in brokering the negotiation and Acting Assistant Secretary Joey Hood to comment on the Biden administration’s reaction. The Washington Institute's David Makovsky joins to discuss his views based on just completed travel to Israel and the West Bank. Chair of the Middle East Program Ambassador James Jeffrey will discuss the geostrategic implications of the ceasefire and conflict.