What we know about the Gaza ceasefire agreement and hostages release
Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe Israeli military says Hamas has handed over all living hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees, as part of the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.
The agreement saw a ceasefire come into effect last Friday and increased amounts of aid enter the Strip over the weekend.
Once phase one is complete, negotiations are expected to follow over the details of the latter phases.
Here’s what we know.
Who are the released hostages?
The ceasefire deal that took effect on Friday should see Hamas release all the 48 Israeli and foreign hostages it is still holding after two years of war, only 20 of whom are confirmed to be alive.
All but one were among the 251 people abducted during the Palestinian group’s attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 other people were killed. Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 67,000 people have been killed, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
On Monday morning, Hamas handed 20 living hostages in two groups to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Israeli authorities said the first group comprised Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Matan Angrest.
Evyatar David, Joseph-Chaim Ohana, Segev Calphone, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, David Cunio, Eitan Horn, Rom Braslabski and Ariel Cunio.
A copy of the ceasefire agreement published by Israeli media states the remains of all of the deceased hostages should also be handed over by 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Monday. But it also appears to acknowledge that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not be able to locate all of them within that timeframe.
An Israeli official said that an international task force would start work to locate the remains of anyone who was not returned.
Who are the Palestinian prisoners being released?
In exchange for the hostages, Israel has agreed release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza, including 15 minors.
Updated lists of the names of the detainees and prisoners was published by the Hamas-run Prisoners Media Office on Monday morning.
The list of prisoners does not include high profile figures serving multiple life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis – including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat – whose release Hamas had demanded.
Israeli media reported last week that around 100 of the 250 will be released into the occupied West Bank, 15 to occupied East Jerusalem, and 135 will be deported to the Gaza Strip or elsewhere.
It is unclear whether a delay in the release of all deceased hostages could also delay the release of the Palestinian prisoners.
What else has been agreed in phase one of Trump’s plan?
The ceasefire took effect in Gaza at 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT on Friday).
Over the weekend, increased amounts of aid began entering the territory.
The Israeli military said its troops had withdrawn to a line detailed in the agreement which leaves it in control of 53% of Gaza, according to a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office.
A map shared by the White House last week indicated that this was the first of three stages of Israeli withdrawal, with the other stages intended to occur during the latter phases of Trump’s peace plan.
A multinational force of around 200 troops overseen by the US military will monitor the ceasefire, according to a senior US official. It is believed the force includes troops from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The official said the role of the force would be to oversee and observe the ceasefire and “make sure there are no violations or incursions”. A second senior US official said no US forces would be on the ground in Gaza.
What about the later phases?
If the hostages and prisoners are successfully exchanged, it is believed negotiations will follow over the latter phases of Trump’s 20-point plan.
But many points could be hard to reach an agreement on.
The plan, which you can read in full here, says that if it is agreed by both sides, the war would “immediately end”.
It says Gaza would be demilitarised and all “military, terror and offensive infrastructure” would be destroyed.
It also says Gaza would be initially governed by a temporary transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats – supervised by a “Board of Peace” headed and chaired by Trump and involving former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Governance of the Strip would eventually be handed over to the Palestinian Authority – which administers the West Bank – once it has undergone reforms.
Hamas – which has run the territory since 2007 – would play no future role in its governance, directly or indirectly, according to the plan.
Hamas members would be offered amnesty if they committed to peaceful co-existence, or would be provided safe passage to another country.
No Palestinians would be forced to leave Gaza and those who wished to leave would be free to return.
A “Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise Gaza” would be created by a panel of experts.
What are the key sticking points?
There are likely to be multiple points of contention during the negotiations over later phases of the deal.
Hamas has previously refused to lay down its weapons, saying it would only do so once a Palestinian state had been established.
The group also made no mention of disarming in its initial response to the plan last weekend, fuelling speculation that its position had not changed.
And though Israel has agreed to Trump’s plan in full, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to push back on the Palestinian Authority being involved in a post-war Gaza, even as he stood on the podium next to its president last week.
Hamas has also said it expects to have some future role in Gaza as part of “a unified Palestinian movement”.
Another sticking point is the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal. Israel says its first withdrawal will see it retaining control of around 53% of Gaza. The White House plan indicates further withdrawals to around 40% and then 15%.
That final stage would be a “security perimeter” that would “remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat”.
The wording here is vague and gives no clear timeline for full Israeli withdrawal – something Hamas is likely to want clarity on.
