What the Gaza ceasefire actually means | EXPLAINER

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza following days of indirect talks in Egypt.

Qatar, which helped broker the agreement alongside Egypt, the United States, and Turkey, described the deal as the "first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid".

Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, "ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace."

What does the first phase include?

According to a Palestinian source close to the negotiations, Hamas will release 20 living hostages simultaneously as part of the first phase.

According to reports, a top Hamas official that Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the start of the war.

The exchange is expected to take place within 72 hours of implementing the deal and has also been "agreed with Palestinian factions," the source said.

Additionally, the deal guarantees a daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid will enter the Gaza Strip during the first five days of the ceasefire, with plans to increase that number in the following days. The agreement also provides for the "return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north immediately."

The Hamas official added that the deal includes "scheduled withdrawals" of Israeli troops and "guarantees from President Trump and the mediators".

Hamas issued an official statement calling on Trump to ensure Israel fully implements the agreement and "not allow it to evade or procrastinate in implementing what has been agreed".

What happens next?

Majed al-Ansari, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman, said both sides have already agreed "on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his government on Thursday to approve the deal. A source with knowledge of the agreement told that the deal will be formally signed on Thursday around midday in Egypt.

A Hamas official stated that negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire will begin "immediately".

Trump said on Wednesday that he believed all the hostages, including the deceased, will be "coming back" Monday.

The first phase is part of Trump’s broader 20-point plan for Gaza, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Why this deal matters

The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire marks a significant step toward reducing hostilities in the region. By including the release of hostages, the return of displaced persons, and the entry of humanitarian aid, the agreement aims to provide immediate relief to those affected by the conflict.