U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a breakthrough agreement between Israel and Hamas following indirect negotiations in Egypt. The deal represents the first phase of a comprehensive peace plan for the Gaza Strip, offering hope for an end to two years of devastating conflict.
According to Al Quds, the ceasefire agreement encompasses detailed provisions covering prisoner exchanges, humanitarian aid access, and the return of displaced Palestinians. Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkey jointly mediated the negotiations, confirming that both parties have reached consensus on all terms and implementation mechanisms for this critical first phase.
Here are the 10 essential points of the Gaza agreement:
1. Hostage and Prisoner Exchange
Hamas will release 20 living Israeli hostages in one batch. In return, Israel will release more than 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 arrested since the war began.
2. Exchange Timeline
The prisoner swap must occur within 72 hours of the agreement's implementation, according to Palestinian sources familiar with the negotiations.
3. Humanitarian Aid Access
At least 400 aid trucks will enter Gaza daily during the first five days after the ceasefire takes effect, with provisions to increase this number in subsequent days.
4. Return of Displaced Persons
Palestinians displaced from southern Gaza will be permitted to return to Gaza City and northern areas immediately upon implementation of the agreement.
5. Israeli Military Withdrawal
An Israeli military source confirmed that the army will complete the first phase of partial withdrawal within the first 24 hours. Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed-upon line as part of the initial steps.
6. Official Signing
The agreement is scheduled to be officially signed in Egypt on Thursday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convening a government meeting for approval.
7. Factional Approval
The agreement was reached with the approval of all Palestinian factions, ensuring broader support for implementation.
8. Second Phase Negotiations
A Hamas leader stated that negotiations regarding the second phase of Trump's plan will begin "immediately" after the first phase is implemented.
9. Complete Hostage Return
Trump expressed confidence that all hostages, including deceased individuals, will be returned by Monday, marking a swift resolution to this aspect of the conflict.
10. Long-term Vision
Trump's comprehensive 20-point plan calls for a complete ceasefire, release of all hostages, disarmament of Hamas, and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, aiming for what Trump described as "a strong, lasting, and eternal peace."
Implementation Concerns
Hamas issued a cautionary statement calling on President Trump to ensure Israel "fully implements the terms of the agreement and not allow it to evade or procrastinate in applying what has been agreed upon." This reflects ongoing concerns about compliance and good-faith execution of the deal.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari confirmed that both sides "agreed on all terms and mechanisms" with additional details to be announced later. The agreement represents a collaborative diplomatic achievement involving multiple regional and international mediators working toward ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Photo: Al Quds