The ceasefire in Gaza has been fragile, but it has also mostly held and the exchanges worked, says Alon Pinkas, former ambassador and consul general of Israel in New York.

He added that the fact that the first phase held does not necessarily bode well for the more challenging second phase.

“The reason is that Netanyahu is not interested in phase two. This phase will include Israeli force reduction in Gaza on day 42, which is a week from now. On day 50, it includes not just a force reduction, but a withdrawal,” Pinkas told Al Jazeera from Tel Aviv.

He said the ceasefire will turn from a cessation of hostilities, as it is known now, to an end to the war, which is not something the Israeli prime minister favours.

“Politically, he can afford neither the withdrawal nor the official end of the war,” he said, pointing out that according to the agreement, if phase two is not implemented, then phase one automatically continues.

“But only the ceasefire aspect continues, not the exchanges or the force reduction or eventual withdrawal, which all bodes badly for the durability of the ceasefire.”