Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director of the Counter Extremism Project, has told DW that the ceasefire deal is "a victory" for the hostages and Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

However, Schindler said the Hamas command and control structure, and its tunnel network, had been severely degraded. 

Every month or week Hamas leaders wait for a ceasefire will only make them weaker, he said.

"For Hamas, this deal really is the recognition that they have nothing more to gain by prolonging this conflict," he said.

However, he said that Hamas was in a position to rebuild itself. 

"Outside Gaza and outside the Palestinian territories, the Hamas infrastructure is pretty much untouched," Schindler said, mentioning the organization's leadership and money.

He added that Hamas will get some credit for getting Palestinian prisoners back, so it was not in a bad position to rebuild.

"Hamas as an organization, as an ideology still exists. What is gone is its power infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. It has the ability to rebuild this if the circumstances allow it to do so," Schindler said.