Gaza Peace Deal: What’s in phase one and what happens next 

The first phase of the Gaza peace deal announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday night marks a major diplomatic breakthrough between Israel and Hamas after months of fighting.

According to details released by the White House and confirmed by Qatari mediators, phase one will focus on an immediate ceasefire, troop withdrawal, hostage and prisoner releases, and the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

What’s in Phase One

Under the agreement, all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be released, while Israel will withdraw its troops to a mutually agreed line. In return, Israel will free several Palestinian prisoners, as confirmed by Qatar’s foreign ministry.

Humanitarian relief is also a central part of this stage. Israel will allow 400 aid trucks to enter Gaza daily for the first five days, carrying food, medical supplies, and fuel to ease the humanitarian crisis.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already begun “operational preparations” to adjust their deployment lines ahead of the ceasefire’s implementation, the military said in a statement on Thursday morning.

How the Next Few Days Could Play Out

Today:
The Israeli cabinet will meet at 2:00 p.m. Jerusalem time (12:00 p.m. BST) to formally vote on the plan. If approved, the ceasefire will take immediate effect, and Israeli troops will start to withdraw from key areas in Gaza.

Tomorrow:
A senior White House official told CBS News that Israeli forces are expected to complete their withdrawal within 24 hours. Once this is done, a 72-hour window will open for Hamas to begin releasing hostages.

Monday:
The US expects the hostage releases to begin by Monday, though officials say Hamas could start the process sooner if logistics permit.

“An Extraordinary First Step”

Former US envoy David Satterfield described the agreement as “quite an extraordinary first step,” but cautioned that more complex challenges lie ahead — including Hamas’ disarmament, the formation of a transitional Gaza administration, and reconstruction efforts.

“It’s the Middle East, where disappointment always lurks behind every positive development,” Satterfield said. “But without this first step, you never have a chance of getting to the others.”

If successfully implemented, phase one of the deal could mark the most significant step toward peace in Gaza in over a decade — setting the stage for wider negotiations on long-term stability in the region.