Following a significant day that saw Hamas return all 20 living Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and the bodies of four deceased hostages, the path forward for peace in Gaza is being shaped. Leaders from Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar have aligned with US President Donald Trump’s commitment to his comprehensive plan aimed at ending the two-year conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The initial phase of Trump’s plan, which began with a ceasefire at 09:00 GMT on October 10th, included increased humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Israeli troops have also commenced a phased withdrawal, consolidating control over approximately 53% of Gaza, marking the first stage of disengagement outlined in the proposal.
However, key elements of this first phase remain outstanding. Israel has emphasized the urgent need for the return of the remains of 24 other deceased hostages still held in Gaza, a deadline that passed without full compliance. While a copy of the ceasefire agreement suggests flexibility for Hamas and other factions in locating these remains, Israel insists on the completion of this aspect.
The plan details a multinational force of around 200 troops, overseen by the US military, to monitor the ceasefire. Crucially, it proposes a temporary transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats to govern Gaza initially, under the chairmanship of President Trump himself. Future governance is envisioned to be handed over to a reformed Palestinian Authority. The plan explicitly states Hamas will have no future role in Gaza’s governance, directly or indirectly, and mandates the demilitarization of the Strip.
Significant challenges lie ahead in negotiating subsequent phases. Hamas has historically conditioned its disarmament on the establishment of a Palestinian state, and its initial response to Trump’s plan offered no indication of a change in this stance. Furthermore, while Israel has agreed to the plan, Prime Minister Netanyahu has expressed reservations about the Palestinian Authority’s involvement in post-war Gaza, despite sharing a stage with its president during the announcement.
Another critical point of contention is the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal. While the initial phase involves a pullback to control 53% of Gaza, the White House plan suggests further reductions to 40% and then 15%, creating a ‘security perimeter’ until Gaza is deemed secure from resurgent terror threats. The ambiguity surrounding the timeline for a complete Israeli withdrawal is likely to be a major focus for Hamas in future negotiations.
The released hostages include Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Matan Angrest, Bar Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, David Cunio, Eitan Horn, Rom Braslabski, and Ariel Cunio. The bodies of Guy Illouz and Bipin Joshi have also been identified among those returned.
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