Israel approves Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza ceasefire and hostage release | BBC News

Key Concepts Ceasefire Plan, Hostage Release, Prisoner Exchange, Troop Withdrawal, Humanitarian Aid, Civil Military Coordination Center, Multinational Force, Gaza Governance, Disarming Hamas, US Central Command (SentCom), Nobel Peace Prize.

1. Approval of Ceasefire Plan and Initial Details The Israeli government has formally approved the first stage of President Trump's ceasefire plan, aimed at securing the release of all hostages held in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on X that the government approved the framework for the release of "all the hostages, the living and the deceased." President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his special envoy, Steve Woodoff (also referred to as Steve Whit), were present at the cabinet meeting, sitting alongside Netanyahu.

2. First Phase Implementation The initial phase of the ceasefire plan includes several key components:

• Hostage Release: All remaining hostages are expected to be released, with President Trump stating this could occur on Monday or Tuesday.
• Prisoner Exchange: Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released. Specifically, Hamas's deputy chairman stated that 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment will be released, along with 1,700 prisoners from the Gaza Strip arrested after October 7th, and all children and women prisoners.
• Troop Withdrawal: Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line, which will still be within Gaza. The transcript indicates a "yellow line" on a map as the agreed pullback point.
• Humanitarian Aid: Trucks will be allowed to re-enter the territory, facilitating the entry of aid.
• Rafa Crossing: The Rafa crossing will be opened in both directions.

3. Statements from Key Figures

• Benjamin Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister): Expressed "tremendous development" and praised President Trump, Steve Whit, and Jared Kushner for their "extraordinary help" in achieving the war aim of returning all hostages. He highlighted their tireless work, "brains and hearts," and the combined military and diplomatic pressure that isolated Hamas. He thanked them on behalf of Israel, the United States, "decent people everywhere," and the families of the loved ones.
• Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Chairman: Announced that an agreement has been reached to "end the war and aggression against our people" and to implement a "permanent ceasefire." He stated that Hamas has received "guarantees from the mediating brothers and from the American administration" that the war has "ended completely."
• President Donald Trump: Confirmed he would visit Israel and Egypt this weekend, with the official signing of the deal expected to take place in Egypt. He declared a "momentous breakthrough in the Middle East," stating they "ended the war in Gaza" and created "peace," which he hopes will be "lasting" and "everlasting." He also confirmed the securing of all remaining hostages, with their release anticipated on Monday or Tuesday.

4. Ceasefire Monitoring and Implementation Structure North America correspondent David Willis provided details on the monitoring of the ceasefire:

• US Military Involvement: Approximately 200 US military members will be relocated from their current Middle East bases to Israel.
• Multinational Force: These US troops will oversee and coordinate a multinational force comprising troops experienced in logistics, security, and engineering.
• Civil Military Coordination Center: A "civil military coordination center" will be established in Israel.
• International Participation: Forces from Arab and Muslim countries, including Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, will also be involved.
• Roles: This force will coordinate ceasefire implementation, oversee the transition to a civilian government in Gaza, and facilitate humanitarian aid delivery.
• Leadership: The US troops will be led by Admiral Bradley Cooper, head of SentCom (US Central Command).
• No Entry into Gaza: The 200 US troops will not enter Gaza themselves.

5. Political Implications and Nobel Peace Prize President Trump expressed his belief in a "lasting peace" and "everlasting peace" in Gaza. He is expected to travel to the Middle East on Sunday for a potential signing ceremony and the hostage release, which is seen as a significant photo opportunity. Donald Trump has openly desired the Nobel Peace Prize. While the Gaza ceasefire deal came too late for this year's award, the Washington Post, a newspaper not traditionally supportive of Trump, published a headline stating, "Yes, Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize," which Trump subsequently linked to from his Truth Social platform.

6. Hamas's Perspective and Guarantees Muhammad Taha from BBC Arabic elaborated on Hamas's view, emphasizing that this ceasefire differs from previous ones (November 2023, January 2024) due to "massive guarantee from the US President Donald Trump" and other mediators that the war has "ended." This guarantee is crucial for Hamas, as they will "hand over all their cards" by releasing all hostages. Previous ceasefires saw Israel resume fighting after initial hostage releases due to disagreements on details.

7. Ongoing Situation and Future Challenges Despite the ceasefire approval, live images showed continued Israeli bombing, though with reduced fatalities compared to previous weeks (e.g., 50-60 daily fatalities). This bombing is understood to be Israel's attempt to prevent Palestinians from returning to Gaza City, as Israel has not yet received its hostages.

The long-term future of Gaza presents many unresolved questions:

• Gaza Governance: The primary question is "who is going to rule Gaza."
  • Egyptian Preparations: Sources close to Egyptian intelligence suggest Egypt is preparing 2,000-5,000 Palestinian soldiers, trained in Egypt, to take control of security.
  • Technocratic Figures: There are reports of 15 Palestinian technocrat figures being prepared to rule Gaza.
  • International Involvement: News reports in Egyptian media suggest former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Jared Kushner will be involved in a ruling committee, potentially based in Harish, Egypt. The question remains whether Egypt will host this leadership on its soil.
• Disarming Hamas: Another critical detail is whether the agreement includes disarming Hamas. Muhammad Nazal, a Hamas leader, did not provide a clear answer on this point in a BBC Arabic interview.

8. Conclusion The approval of President Trump's ceasefire plan marks a significant development, bringing immense relief to the people of Gaza after a deadly conflict that claimed 67,000 lives. While the immediate focus is on hostage and prisoner exchanges, troop withdrawal, and humanitarian aid, the long-term stability of the region hinges on unresolved questions regarding Gaza's future governance, the role of international and regional actors, and the disarmament of Hamas. The current situation, despite the ceasefire, still sees Israeli bombing, albeit with fewer casualties, highlighting the delicate and complex transition ahead.