A ceasefire agreement is a military declaration that suspends hostilities between a conflict’s parties. A ceasefire is generally accompanied by a formal agreement and may include provisions on the duration of the cessation, locations and boundaries of designated zones of rest (demilitarization); monitoring, verification, and inspection; humanitarian access; prisoner of war exchanges; repatriation and compensation of claims; and other ad hoc issues specific to the context.
Often, a ceasefire is a first step in a larger peace process to reach more substantive compromises that put a permanent end to protracted social conflict. While a ceasefire can serve a number of humanitarian purposes, it is important that it be based on the terms and conditions set out in the broader peace process.
Ceasefire agreements typically involve complex negotiations and can require substantial time, effort and resources. They can be facilitated by mediators, third-party observers or regional and international organizations. The chapter introduces planning considerations to help prepare mediators for the challenge of designing credible, realistic ceasefire agreements in contexts where a sustainable truce is needed.
The fact that the deal was announced so close to Trump’s inauguration is not just an expression of Netanyahu’s jubilation at his election victory, but also a way of conveying his urgency and importance in Trump’s eyes to clinch this deal before he takes office. This sequencing also helps Israel’s far-right partners in its coalition sell this two-stage plan to the public as a means of winning Israeli backing for it.