US declares phase two of Gaza ceasefire, but what did phase one deliver?
Hamas fighters stand at attention before the handing over the bodies of four Israeli captives in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on 20 February 2025
Mohammed Haddad and Mohammad Mansour write in Al Jazeera on 16 January 2026:
The US has announced the Gaza ceasefire is moving to phase two, where “demilitarisation, technocratic governance, and reconstruction” will be the focus.
Hamas leaders and representatives of other Palestinian factions in Gaza are in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for talks, but deep uncertainty remains regarding the next steps.
Most of the goals in Trump’s 20-point plan that became the basis for a ceasefire in Gaza three months ago never became a reality on the ground. Here is what has happened in each of the main points of the plan since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025.
Gaza Ceasefire – What did phase 1 actually deliver
What was supposed to happen in phase one?
Phase one of Trump’s 20-point plan was designed to immediately halt the fighting, facilitate the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian captives, set a boundary for Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza, allow the full entry of humanitarian aid, and open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.Al Jazeera
1. Halt on attacks
Status: Did not stop
While the daily number of Israeli attacks has decreased since the start of the ceasefire, Israel has killed at least 451 Palestinians and injured 1,251 – an average of nearly five killed every day – since October 10.
More than 100 children, including at least 60 boys and 40 girls, are among those killed, according to UNICEF.
2. Israeli captives returned in exchange for release of Palestinian prisoners
Status: All captives returned except for one; Israel has not released all the prisoners agreed on
Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has also returned 27 of the 28 bodies of deceased captives, while the search is still on for the remaining body, believed to be buried under the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel.