Washington / Cairo / Gaza City – United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his 20-point peace plan, marking the most significant breakthrough in efforts to end the devastating two-year war in Gaza.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “ALL the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed upon line.”
The announcement came after days of indirect negotiations in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where delegations from the U.S., Qatar, Turkiye, and Egypt pressed both sides to resolve differences.
What the First Phase Includes
According to mediators, the initial stage of the plan calls for:
- A ceasefire across Gaza.
- The release of 48 Israeli captives, including 20 believed to be alive.
- A prisoner exchange, with Palestinian detainees freed from Israeli jails.
- The entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that “all provisions and implementation mechanisms” of the first phase had been agreed, with details to be announced later.
Hamas has submitted its list of detainees to be freed, while Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
High-Level Mediation
The talks have drawn in senior figures, including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, and Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
Hamas negotiators Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha last month, also participated. A delegation from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which also holds captives, is expected to join.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the negotiations had made “a lot of headway,” while Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq welcomed the involvement of Qatar, Turkiye, and Egypt, calling it “a strong boost” toward ending the war.
Disagreements Remain
Despite the breakthrough, analysts caution that major obstacles remain. Al Jazeera’s senior political analyst Marwan Bishara noted that while both sides appear to agree on parameters for a prisoner exchange, disputes persist over:
- The timing and scope of Israeli troop withdrawals.
- The future governance of Gaza.
- Whether Hamas must disarm as part of the deal.
“Hamas says the war should end once captives are released,” Bishara explained. “Israel insists the war ends only after Hamas disarms.”
Fighting Continues in Gaza
Even as negotiations advanced, Israeli bombardments continued. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported at least eight Palestinians killed and 61 injured in the past 24 hours.
The enclave’s Government Media Office said Israel carried out 271 air and artillery strikes over five days, killing 126 civilians, including women and children.
Al Jazeera reporters described the situation as “extremely bleak,” with drones targeting residential areas in Gaza City. Civilians noted a slight reduction in bombardment intensity, which some attributed to mediator pressure.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that Gaza’s health system is near collapse:
- Only 14 of 36 hospitals are partially functioning.
- Just one-third of primary care facilities remain operational.
- Severe shortages of electricity, clean water, and medicine persist.
“Some facilities have been hit and rehabilitated and hit once more,” said Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s regional director.
A War of Catastrophic Scale
Since Israel launched its military campaign in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, Gaza’s health authorities report over 67,000 Palestinians killed and nearly all of the enclave’s two million residents displaced. Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble.
Israel says about 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led assault and 251 hostages taken, with 20 of the 48 still believed alive.
Looking Ahead
Trump has hinted he may travel to the Middle East this weekend to personally oversee the next steps. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government would convene to approve the deal, calling it “a great day for Israel.”
If implemented, the agreement would mark the most significant diplomatic achievement of Trump’s presidency and could reshape the trajectory of the Gaza war. Yet with airstrikes ongoing and deep mistrust on both sides, the path to a durable peace remains uncertain.
