The US has announced that the Gaza ceasefire will move into phase two, with a focus on “demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction.”
Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip and representatives of other Palestinian factions have traveled to Egypt’s capital Cairo for talks, but there remains uncertainty over next steps.
Most of the goals of President Trump’s 20-point plan, which was the basis for the ceasefire in Gaza three months ago, were never realized on the ground. Here’s what has happened at each key point in the plan since the ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025.
What was supposed to happen in Phase 1?
The first phase of President Trump’s 20-point plan aimed to immediately halt fighting, facilitate the exchange of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners, establish a demarcation line for Israeli withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip, allow full entry of humanitarian aid, and open the Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt.
1. Stop the attack
Status: Not stopped
Since October 10, Israel has killed at least 451 Palestinians and injured 1,251 others, an average of nearly five people killed each day, although the number of daily Israeli attacks has declined since the start of the ceasefire.
According to UNICEF, more than 100 children were among the dead, including at least 60 boys and 40 girls.
2. Return of Israeli prisoners in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners
Situation: All but one POW returned. Israel has not released all the prisoners it agreed to
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas released all 20 surviving Israeli prisoners in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has also returned 27 of the bodies of the 28 dead prisoners, while searches continue for the remaining bodies, believed to be buried under the rubble of buildings bombed by Israel.
However, Suhail al-Hindi, a member of the Hamas politburo and one of the supervisors of the exchange agreement, told Al Jazeera that Israel has failed to release all women and child prisoners as stipulated in the agreement.
Several doctors also continue to be housed, including Dr. Hassam Abu Safia, Dr. Marwan Al Hams, and Dr. Tasneem Al Hams.
Israel also scrapped a clause in the agreement that would have allowed the introduction of DNA matching equipment intended to identify the bodies of deceased Palestinian prisoners of war.
3. Israel’s withdrawal
Status: Not fully withdrawn
As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel was to withdraw its troops to an area known as the “Yellow Line,” which covers more than 50 percent of the Gaza Strip and is marked by a series of yellow concrete blocks on the ground.
Al Jazeera’s Sanad fact-checking agency found that the Israeli military is moving these blocks, thereby expanding the territory it controls and forcing Palestinians into smaller and smaller groups. Israel also carried out large-scale destruction of neighborhoods and surrounding areas near the yellow line.
4. Full humanitarian assistance
Current situation: Israel continues to limit aid
The ceasefire agreement stipulated that “immediate full assistance be sent to the Gaza Strip.” However, the reality on the ground remains very different. Israel continues to restrict aid.
According to the Gaza Government Media Office, only 23,019 out of 54,000 trucks entered Gaza between October 10, 2025 and January 9, 2026, an average of 255 trucks a day. This represents only 43% of the trucks that would have been allowed to enter.
Israel bans essential and nutritious foods such as meat, dairy products and vegetables that are essential to a balanced diet. Instead, foods with no nutritional value are allowed, such as snacks, chocolate, crisps and soft drinks.
Additionally, Israel has banned more than 30 international organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, known by its French initials MSF. Oxfam; Norwegian Refugee Council; Care International. The International Rescue Committee and several other charities suspended their operations in Gaza, further worsening the already dire situation for the Palestinians.
5. Opening of Rafah intersection
Status: Did not occur
The Rafah crossing, a critical lifeline for entry, travel and medical evacuation of relief supplies and a key border point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, remains closed by Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would only resume the crossing if it accepted the remains of the last remaining dead prisoners buried under rubble after more than two years of Israeli onslaught.
What might happen in Phase 2?
In the second phase, the focus is expected to shift to long-term governance and the establishment of a Palestinian Panel of Engineers to lead post-war Gaza.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said this marked the “establishment of an interim technocratic Palestinian administration in Gaza” and the beginning of “the complete demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza, primarily the disarmament of all unauthorized personnel.”
However, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudaly, reporting from Gaza City, said the Gaza deal has so far brought no changes on the ground. “The sounds of drones can still be heard (flying overhead) and there were several explosions in the early hours of the morning, with destruction taking place across Gaza.”
How many times has Israel violated the ceasefire?
Since the declaration of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip on October 10, 2025, Israel has carried out almost daily attacks in violation of the agreement, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
According to a report by the Gaza government media office, Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 1,193 times between October 10, 2025 and January 9, 2026, by continuing attacks with airstrikes, artillery shells, and direct fire.
According to an Al Jazeera analysis, Israel has attacked Gaza for 82 of the past 97 days during the ceasefire period, which ended on January 14, meaning there were only 15 days during this period without reports of violent attacks, deaths or injuries.
Despite continued attacks, the US insists a “ceasefire” still holds.
