The Heat: Assessing the Gaza cease-fire agreement

The Heat

ALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-GAZAPalestinian children flash the sign of victory as they celebrate in the streets in East Jerusalem the long-term truce agreed between Israel and the Palestinians on August 26, 2014. Israel has agreed to observe an “unlimited” ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, a senior official told AFP, shortly after the deal was announced by the Palestinians AFP PHOTO / AHMAD GHARABLI

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip poured into the streets Tuesday to celebrate the announcement that an open-ended cease-fire agreement had been reached with Israel after 50 days of intense fighting. But many on both sides are wondering what was gained.

The numbers are staggering. Fifty days of fighting. More than 2,200 killed,many of them civilians, including 500 children. At least 11,000 injured. More than 17,000 homes destroyed or badly damaged. Around a third of Gaza’s 1.8 million people displaced.

So when the latest cease-fire agreement between Israel and Palestinian militants was announced, the main question was simply: What did either side gain from all the damage and bloodshed?

Not surprisingly, the answer depends on who you talk to. We talked with our correspondents in the region, from Tel Aviv, CCTV’s Roee Ruttenberg. and from Gaza, Noor Harazeen.

Discussing the latest cease-fire in Gaza from Tel Aviv is the spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Paul Hirschson.

For the Palestinian view on this latest cease-fire agreement we were joined by a former advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas and the PLO – Diana Buttu. She joined us from Ramallah.

Our panel discussion continues.