The expected commitments from Israel in maintaining a cease-fire go significantly beyond simply halting military action.

These expectations, driven by international law, humanitarian imperatives, and diplomatic pressure, center on easing the blockade, allowing massive humanitarian aid, and engaging in political dialogue aimed at a long-term resolution.

1. Easing the Blockade and Ensuring Unimpeded Humanitarian Aid

The most immediate and non-negotiable expectation from the international community is for Israel to immediately and fully facilitate the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid and to significantly ease or lift the long-standing blockade on the Gaza Strip. This expectation is rooted in Israel's obligations under international law, particularly as the Occupying Power of Gaza.

International Law Obligations and Collective Punishment

• Duty to Supply: Under Article 55 and 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, an Occupying Power has the duty to ensure food and medical supplies for the population under its control. If the population is inadequately supplied, the Occupying Power must agree to relief schemes and facilitate them.

• Unimpeded Passage: Israel is obligated to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need. The international community consistently demands a massive scale-up of aid, including food, water, medicine, fuel, and shelter, to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, which includes widespread food insecurity and the risk of famine.

• Prohibition of Collective Punishment: The international community, including the UN General Assembly, has repeatedly called on Israel to end the blockade, arguing that restrictions on essential goods—especially when used as a tactic to exert political pressure—amount to collective punishment against the entire civilian population, which is prohibited under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

• Restoring Essential Services: Beyond simple aid access, Israel is expected to allow the entry of materials, fuel, and equipment necessary for the restoration of essential civilian infrastructure, such including electricity grids, water and sewage systems, and healthcare facilities that have been decimated by conflict.

In the context of a cease-fire, Israel is expected to open all functional border crossings and remove authorization mechanisms that arbitrarily restrict the volume and type of aid, allowing for the unconditional flow of relief at the scale required by the UN and aid agencies.

2. Engaging in Political Dialogue for a Lasting Resolution

While the immediate focus of any cease-fire is on de-escalation and humanitarian relief, a long-term expectation is that the pause in fighting must serve as a pathway to a political process aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict. Military restraint alone is seen as insufficient for durable peace.

Diplomatic and Political Commitments

• Securing a Permanent End to Hostilities: The initial temporary cease-fire is universally viewed by diplomats and international bodies as a necessary first step that must evolve into a permanent cessation of hostilities (a "permanent cease-fire"). Israel is expected to enter negotiations with this long-term objective in mind, rather than viewing the pause merely as a mechanism to secure the release of hostages or to regroup for further military action.

• Facilitating Reconstruction and Return of Displaced Persons: A permanent resolution requires a commitment to a massive reconstruction process for Gaza. This necessitates Israel lifting restrictions on the entry of reconstruction materials (which are often classified as "dual-use" goods). Crucially, Israel is expected to guarantee the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced Palestinians to their homes, without imposing unilateral restrictions or creating permanent "buffer zones" that shrink the territory of Gaza.

• Commitment to a Two-State Solution: The broader political expectation from international partners like the US, the EU, and the UN is Israel's continued commitment to a negotiated two-state solution. This entails diplomatic engagement that moves toward a secure Israeli state living alongside a sovereign Palestinian state, based on the 1967 borders. Long-term cease-fire sustainability is fundamentally linked to progress on this political track.

3. Broader Measures and Compliance

Other crucial expectations relate to internal security and compliance with international norms, which create the conditions for a stable cease-fire.

• Withdrawal from Populated Areas: In phased cease-fire agreements, Israel is often expected to withdraw its forces from populated areas of Gaza to allow for the return of civilians and the resumption of civil administration.

• Protection of Civilians and Accountability: Israel is expected to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law even during military restraint, including protecting civilians who remain in conflict zones and ensuring accountability for all alleged violations of international law. The international community also demands that Israel cease all actions that might lead to the forcible transfer or deportation of the Palestinian population.

• Release of Detainees: While an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners is typically a negotiated term of the cease-fire, the broader expectation is for Israel to review and release arbitrarily detained Palestinians, including administrative detainees, to build confidence and de-escalate tensions on the broader political and security fronts.

In summary, a cease-fire's success is measured not just by a lack of violence, but by Israel's active and comprehensive compliance with its obligations to provide for the civilian population of Gaza and to use the pause as an opportunity to genuinely pursue a long-term political resolution.