First phase of Trump’s Gaza plan begins with ceasefire and partial Israeli withdrawal

The first phase of Trump’s Gaza plan is in effect, calling for a cessation of hostilities within 24 hours and the release of hostages within 72 hours.

The Israeli government approved a ceasefire with Hamas last night, paving the way for a halt to the fighting in Gaza within 24 hours, followed by the release of Israeli hostages within 72 hours.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN announced that the agreement was signed by both Israel and Hamas and has been endorsed by mediating countries.

According to the details of the published agreement, hostilities will cease immediately upon the Israeli government’s approval. The ceasefire includes a complete stop to all military activities, including airstrikes, artillery fire, and ground offensives.

With the first phase of the Gaza plan now in effect, the ceasefire will be implemented immediately, and the Israeli army will withdraw to a border defined as the “yellow line” within 24 hours. Following this process, Hamas is expected to release all Israeli prisoners within 72 hours.

Immediately after the Israeli government’s approval, all humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza and be distributed freely. This measure will be based on the standard of 600 aid trucks per day, as established in the decision dated January 19, 2025.

Israel-Palestine-Egypt-Qatar-Türkiye joint mechanism

It was decided that Hamas will transfer information about the deceased Israeli soldiers in its possession to a joint mechanism to be established with the participation of Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Under the agreement, the Israeli army will withdraw to the designated “X” borders (a partial withdrawal) within 24 hours of US President Donald Trump’s announcement. The army will not be able to re-enter the areas from which it has withdrawn, and the ceasefire will be fully implemented.

Following the complete withdrawal, the process of releasing all Israeli prisoners in Gaza (both living and deceased) will begin.

The Israeli side states that there are 48 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive, while over 11,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons. According to Palestinian and Israeli human rights sources, these detainees are held in conditions of torture, starvation, and medical neglect.

According to the document, aerial surveillance will be suspended in the areas from which the Israeli army withdraws during the initial 72-hour period. Furthermore, the release of prisoners will take place without any ceremonies or media coverage, and the process will be supervised by a joint committee consisting of the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.

The KAN report, citing unnamed sources, stated that the locations of some Israeli soldiers’ bodies have not yet been identified, and an Israel-Palestine-Egypt-Qatar-Türkiye joint mechanism will be established to address this issue.

‘Partial withdrawal has begun’

With the agreement coming into effect, Israeli forces reportedly began a gradual withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this morning.

According to reports on KAN, following the acceptance of the agreement, Israeli soldiers are withdrawing from some occupied areas in Gaza to “deployment lines.”

Israel Army Radio also reported that some brigades have withdrawn from Gaza after the agreement went into effect.

Hamas: We received assurances

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s Gaza official in exile, stated that he received assurances from the US and other mediators that the war is over.

Al-Hayya thanked the mediating countries—Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar—for their significant role in achieving the agreement. He also expressed appreciation for Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, who joined them in the war.

Referring to the guarantee that the war has ended, al-Hayya said: “We have received a guarantee from the mediators and the US administration that the war is over, and we will continue to work with national and Islamic forces to complete the remaining steps.”

Obstacles remain

Despite this, many things could go wrong. Even after the agreement was signed, a Palestinian source said the list of hundreds of Palestinians to be released has not been finalized. Hamas is demanding the release of some prominent Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails and hundreds of others detained during Israel’s attacks.

The subsequent steps in Trump’s 20-point plan have not yet been negotiated. These include how the devastated Gaza Strip will be governed once the fighting ends and the ultimate fate of Hamas, which rejects Israel’s demand for disarmament.

Netanyahu is also viewed with suspicion within his coalition, as many members have long opposed any deal with Hamas. Indeed, in the cabinet meeting where the agreement was voted on, the first phase of the Trump plan received 24 votes in favor and 4 against. Those who voted against were National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, and Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu.

Trump to visit the region

Trump announced that he will travel to the region on Sunday and may attend a possible signing ceremony in Egypt. Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has also invited Trump to address the Knesset. This would be the first time a US president has spoken at the Knesset since 2008.

Meanwhile, US officials speaking to the Associated Press reported that the US Central Command (CENTCOM) will establish a “civil-military coordination center” in Israel. The officials emphasized that approximately 200 US soldiers will be deployed to Israel as part of a structure that will also include partner countries and NGOs to support and monitor the ceasefire’s implementation. They stressed that no US soldiers will enter the Gaza Strip.

On October 7, 2023, militants led by Hamas attacked Israeli towns and a music festival, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. To date, Israel’s attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians.