Trump’s Gaza peace plan, phase one: what it includes and what’s missing

The first phase of the US-backed Gaza plan pairs a ceasefire with a hostage-prisoner exchange and an initial Israeli pullback to a so-called “yellow line” inside the territory. The arrangement, reached via indirect talks in Egypt shortly after the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks, is designed to stop the shooting and start releases while setting the stage for deeper steps.

According to US and Israeli officials, once Israel’s cabinet approves the deal and begins redeploying—expected to take less than a day—a 72-hour clock would start for the initial handover of captives. Israel believes 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with roughly 20 alive; releases could begin early next week if sequencing holds.

Hamas said it agreed to end the war on terms that include Israeli withdrawal and an exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but it urged the US and guarantor states to enforce full compliance. Washington says Israel has already dialed back some operations at its request, though strikes have continued.

Crucial gaps remain. The agreement does not settle who governs Gaza after the war or the future role of Hamas. Trump’s broader 20-point framework envisages a reformed Palestinian Authority taking responsibilities later and an international “Board of Peace,” led by Trump and involving figures such as former UK prime minister Tony Blair—an idea Hamas rejects.

Negotiators are also wrangling over mechanics: the precise withdrawal map, the pace of aid deliveries, and the prisoner lists. Names under discussion reportedly include high-profile detainees such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat, whose release has been off-limits in past talks.

Israeli demands that Hamas disarm remain a sticking point, while Palestinian sources argue no such concession is possible under occupation. The deal’s success therefore hinges on verification, sequencing of steps and political buy-in from rivals with little trust left to spare.