News Analysis: Israeli troops leave Gaza, what´s next?

A Palestinian man looks at buildings destroyed in Israeli military strikes in central Gaza City, Jan. 21, 2009. The Israeli military attacks on the Gaza Strip have left 1,414 Palestinians dead and 5,500 others wounded.  (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar)

"I believe that the whole situation is very complicated. Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip has deep disputes with President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah movement, who rule the West Bank," said Talal Oukal, a Palestinian analyst.

He added that everything is linked to a historic reconciliation between the two big rival groups, "and once they agree, I believe that other problems would be marginal and can be resolved through diplomatic ways between Israel and the Palestinians."

However, he warned that if the two parties fail to achieve reconciliation soon, "I believe that the situation would remain as it is because the Western world led by the United States, including Israel, are not willing to hold direct talks with Hamas which basically rejects to condemn violence or recognize Israel."

He added that the issues that can be resolved through diplomatic ways, if Fatah and Hamas reunite and agree on a reconciliation, are "the release of captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and the reopening of Gaza Strip crossing points including Gaza-Egypt Rafah border crossing."

Other analysts who voice more optimistic believe that new U.S. President Barack Obama would change the awful situation that his predecessor George W. Bush brought to the whole world, mainly the area of the Middle East.