Israel has approved the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, establishing a ceasefire and a framework for the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian hostages. [3]

Ceasefire terms call for Israeli forces to withdraw from frontline positions to a designated redeployment line within Gaza. Five border crossings are to reopen, allowing humanitarian aid to enter the territory amid worsening famine and starvation.

Under the plan, 48 hostages held in Gaza, 20 of whom are confirmed to be alive, will be exchanged for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, the prominent Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti, who is widely regarded as a symbol of the Palestinian struggle, was excluded from the prisoner exchange.

During the transition period, Gaza will be administered by a temporary committee of Palestinian technocrats, overseen by a “Board of Peace” headed by President Trump. Governance responsibilities are expected to transfer eventually to a restructured Palestinian Authority.

However, the Netanyahu coalition government has not agreed to fully withdraw from Gaza or to end the war. Future stages of the plan would require Hamas to disarm and Gaza to be demilitarized [4].

Nonetheless, this development represents the most significant diplomatic progress since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and the ongoing war that has taken the lives of more than 67,000 Palestinians.