There is anticipation for the official signing and final approval of the ceasefire agreement by the Israeli occupation government in the coming hours.

The ceasefire agreement includes a prisoner exchange, increased aid flow, and the return of displaced persons, following intensive and indirect negotiations hosted by the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

Early Thursday morning, an agreement was reached between delegations of Hamas and the Israeli occupation on the terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip.

The agreement includes a ceasefire with no start date yet specified, a prisoner exchange, increased aid flow, and the return of displaced persons, amid anticipation for the official signing and final approval by the Israeli government in the coming hours.

Key provisions of the first phase were revealed by sources familiar with the negotiations, detailing what was agreed upon in this critical stage.

Main points include:

    • Ceasefire: A comprehensive halt to military operations will take place, but the effective date is pending official procedures.
    • Prisoner Exchange: Hamas and Palestinian factions will release 20 live Israeli prisoners in one batch, in exchange for the release of more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners (including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 arrested in the past two years). The exchange is scheduled to occur within 72 hours of the agreement’s implementation.
    • Humanitarian Aid: The agreement stipulates the entry of at least 400 aid trucks daily into Gaza during the first five days, with plans to increase the amount later.
    • Return of Displaced Persons: The agreement calls for the return of displaced persons from southern Gaza to Gaza City and northern Gaza immediately upon the ceasefire’s start.
    • Withdrawal of Occupation Forces: Israeli army forces will withdraw to an agreed-upon separation line inside Gaza, in a process expected to take less than 24 hours after official approval from Tel Aviv.
    • Return of Deceased Prisoners’ Remains: The remains of approximately 28 detainees will be returned in later stages.

Despite reaching the agreement, implementation remains contingent on official steps. The official signing is expected in Egypt on Thursday afternoon.

In a decisive move, the Israeli security cabinet and government are scheduled to hold meetings at 5 PM local time to approve the agreement.

Mediators confirmed this agreement represents only the first phase of Trump’s plan.

A Hamas leader stated that negotiations on implementing the second phase will begin immediately after the first phase starts.

Upcoming phases will address more complex issues, notably: disarmament of Hamas, formation of a technocratic Palestinian government to manage Gaza, and the establishment of an international “Peace Council” led by the US president to oversee the situation.

Significant details remain unclear, especially regarding Gaza’s governance post-war and Hamas’s fate.

Following the announcement, US President Donald Trump affirmed that the agreement “means all hostages will be released very soon,” describing it as the first step toward a “strong and lasting peace.”

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari also confirmed both sides agreed on “all terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase.”

Tel Aviv witnessed celebrations after the announcement of the agreement that will return detainees.