Israel's truce leaves in question how the Western world can carry out its vow to stop smuggling. The IDF says Hamas is already resuming activity, and two Israeli intelligence experts warned smuggling will continue. "Even at this time, there are people working in the tunnels," Diaa Hassan, a tunnel worker on the Gaza side of the border, told USA Today.
"Almost every significant issue between Hamas and Israel remains unresolved," noted the Associated Press, which added, "There is no guarantee of lasting solutions now."
The Cabinet on Saurday night, with two opposing votes and one abstention, approved a unilateral ceasefire which was followed by several hours with a similar announcement by Hamas. The key element in the Israeli decision is the promise of the United States and European nations to provide on-the-field technology and manpower to stop the smuggling, which enabled Hamas to stockpile 100 tons of explosives, tens of thousands of rifles and rockets and advanced anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles since the IDF withdrew from Gaza more than three years ago.
It remains unclear who will supervise the international monitors, how many Egypt will allow on its territory and how much freedom it will give them to operate.
Bitter Past Experience
Past experience has shown that Egyptian promises to stop smuggling have been broken. "The U.S. allocated $23 million last year to help train Egypt officials and provide high-tech equipment to stop smuggling. The money made barely a dent," AP reported.
Another problem is supervision of the Gaza crossings, if and when they are re-opened. Hamas and the rival Fatah faction are fighting over who will deploy forces at the crossings. 
Former National Security director Giora Eiland categorically stated last week that 'no technology and international forces' can stop smuggling. 
Six European leaders who met at Sharm el-Sheikh and with outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem on Sunday pointed out that the ceasefire is dependent on the success of the halt in smuggling.
The Prime Minister said the government is anxious to pull IDF troops out of Gaza, but if it does so before international monitors are in place, Hamas could start stockpiling more weapons. The IDF has reported that it already sees signs of the resumption of smuggling activity but did not note whether it involved weapons or merchandise. Intelligence experts estimate that approximately 100 smuggling tunnels remained intact following the Cast Lead operation.
Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) director Yuval Diskin warned the Cabinet on Sunday that Hamas will re-build its smuggling tunnel system in several months. Former National Security director Giora Eiland, who also is a former senior IDF officer, categorically stated last week that "no technology and international forces" can stop smuggling.
He said the only way to halt the movement of weapons along the nine-kilometer route bordering Gaza and Egypt is for Cairo to establish a security zone in which no one would be allowed to move.
Likud Knesset candidate and former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon warned Monday morning that the ceasefire is likely to have the same results of the truce that ended the Second Lebanon War. The agreement called for the disarming of Hizbullah but there were no enforcement mechanisms. The terrorist organization quickly amassed three times the number of rockets it possessed before the war.