This has been the longest, bloodiest and most destructive war fought by Israel against the Palestinians in the history of this conflict.
It will end in theatrics, largely orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, who will fly to Israel to welcome home the hostages who are still alive. There could also be a declaration, at the insistence of Hamas and Qatar, of a formal end to the war.
Israeli forces will pull back from all major cities in Gaza, and United Nations trucks will roll again into the enclave – for the moment.
But make no mistake: there is no agreement yet on the second or third phases of the deal, covering the disarmament of Hamas and the imposition of an international mandate to govern Gaza. And there is not likely to be.
