Trump Launches Phase Two of Gaza Agreement After Hostage Return
US President Donald Trump has announced the commencement of "phase two" of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, following the successful return of 20 Israeli hostages. While acknowledging this initial success, Trump emphasized that the work remains incomplete, specifically noting the promised return of deceased individuals has not yet occurred.
US President Donald Trump has declared the start of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, building on the initial hostage-prisoner exchange mediated by Türkiye, the US, Qatar, and Egypt. The announcement comes after the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, a key objective of the deal's first stage.
Trump's Statement on Social Media
President Trump confirmed the development on his Truth Social platform, stating, "All twenty hostages are back and feeling as good as can be expected." He immediately shifted focus to the next steps, adding, "A big burden has been lifted, but the job is not done. The dead have not been returned, as promised! Phase Two begins right now!!!"
The Initial Exchange and Summit
The completed first phase involved a swap where Hamas released the Israeli hostages, and Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from facilities including the Ofer military prison. This exchange was bolstered by a high-level summit convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, by President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, which gathered international leaders to build support for the US-backed ceasefire plan for Gaza.
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Objectives of the Next Phase
The second phase of the agreement outlines more complex and long-term goals for the Gaza Strip. These include establishing a new governing mechanism for the territory, forming a multinational security force, and proceeding with the disarmament of Hamas. This phase begins as the death toll from the conflict since October 2023 has surpassed 67,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, leaving vast areas of the coastal enclave in ruins.
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