The 5 major details in Donald Trump’s Gaza deal as negotiations begin | World | News

Mediators will meet in Egypt today for indirect peace talks between Israel and Hamas as Donald Trump works to get his plan for Gaza approved. Hamas has agreed to some of the US president’s 20-point plan, but is expected to negotiate on things like the governance of Gaza after the hostages are released and Israel withdraws.

Mr Trump warned of “massive bloodshed” if both parties did not quickly carry out the actions in his peace agreement. He said: “I am told the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to move fast. We don’t need flexibility because everybody has pretty much agreed to it, but there will always be some changes. It’s a great deal for Israel, it’s a great deal for the entire Arab world, Muslim world, and world, so we’re very happy about it.”

Hamas has agreed to release all remaining Israeli hostages, but is expected to negotiate further on issues such as Palestinian rights and the future of Gaza.

It said it will “release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal”.

The 20 living and 28 deceased hostages are to be released within 72 hours of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. For every hostage, Israel will set free 15 deceased Gazans.

The peace plan reads: ” Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life-sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after Oct 7 2023, including all women and children detained in that context.”

Hamas originally agreed to release the hostages mere days after they were captured if the IDF withdrew, but Israel declined.

Israel maintains that it will not withdraw until Hamas is disarmed and Gaza is “completely free of terrorism”, but the US president claimed it has agreed to an initial withdrawal line.

However, even if it does agree to this, the IDF want to maintain a “security buffer zone” in the areas around Gaza. It is also not clear how far they will stand back from the withdrawal line and how fast they will do it.

Netanyahu said: “There were those who dismissed the possibility that we could succeed in bringing about the release of all our hostages without a full withdrawal from the Strip. They said, It’s too good to be true. So, I tell you: it’s true.”

Mr Trump’s withdrawal map does not take into account nearly 900,000 Palestinians who need to return to their homes, according to population distribution data.

One Hamas official said it would need days or weeks to locate some hostages’ bodies, and other senior officials have suggested there are still major disagreements requiring further negotiations.

A key demand is for Hamas to disarm, but the group’s response made no mention of that. It’s not clear whether Hamas officials can agree among themselves on the plan.

The plan says that if the Palestinian Authority, which administers the occupied West Bank, reforms sufficiently and Gaza redevelopment advances, “the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood”.

The proposal states: “Gaza will be governed under the temporary, transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza.”

The committee will include “qualified Palestinians and international experts” and be overseen by Mr Trump’s “Board of Peace”, which Tony Blair could also join.

Mr Trump’s plan continues: “This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program.

“This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.”

Hamas members will be ordered to give up their weapons and have no role in the future governance of Gaza, with those agreeing to this granted amnesty or allowed to leave the Strip.

Mr Trump’s plan states: “Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty.

“Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.”

It adds: “Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form.

“All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt.”