How Donald Trump’s Israel-Hamas Gaza peace plan will play out: Timeline of events

Now that the Israeli Government has officially signed off on US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, a series of historic events are set to play out. Here is what we know.

Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of Mr Trump’s 20 point peace plan on Thursday after initially “signing off” on the proposal verbally.

Hamas released a statement stating the US Government had given them certain guarantees and that the “war is over”.

In Israel on Thursday night (local time), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assembled his security cabinet, then the wider cabinet to vote on the proposed plan. That final step will starting a series of events that would see a ceasefire begin, Israeli hostages released and handed over, Palestinian prisoners released and returned to Gaza and ultimately, as Mr Trump has promised, “everlasting peace”.

Israeli Government vote on peace plan

In the early hours of Friday morning, around 1.30am (local time) the Israeli Government approved the first phase of Mr Trump’s peace plan.

There was a minor delay in having the plan approved after one minister threatened to topple the government over the vote.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir had revealed ahead of the vote that his party, the Otzma Yehudit Party, would not support the plan and warned Mr Netanyahu he would attempt to overthrow his government if Hamas was not dismantled.

Ceasefire begins

An Israeli Government spokesperson says the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) will commence a ceasefire within 24 hours of Israeli government approval.

The IDF have conducted strikes since the verbal acceptance of the peace plan, claiming they were targeting Hamas terror cells.

Although fears remain that the IDF could continue strikes, Mr Trump has publicly called for the attacks to be stopped, something now Israel has agreed to through cabinet approval.

IDF to pull troops out

After the ceasefire commences, the IDF will adjust defence lines, pulling back to an agreed location set out in Mr Trump’s plan, leaving the IDF in control of around 53 per cent of the Gaza Strip. This defence line is expected to remain as further peace plan phases are negotiated.

Donald Trump travels to Middle East (possibly)

As the ceasefire begins, Mr Trump is expected to travel to the Middle East.

Mr Trump has said he will likely travel to the region on Sunday or Monday, but is yet to reveal exact plans.

Before leaving the United States, the White House has confirmed Mr Trump will have his yearly medical check-up at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre. The check-up coincides with a planned visit to meet troops and make a speech.

Mr Trump has suggested he would travel to Egypt to sign the historic peace plan, which has already been signed by Israel, Hamas, and Palestinian authorities.

He has also been invited to speak directly to the Israeli cabinet in Jerusalem. Mr Trump expressed a desire to take up that offer, but officials are yet to confirm the potential appearance.

Israeli hostages released

After the ceasefire begins, a 72-hour countdown commences. Hamas must, within those 72 hours, return all living hostages and the bodies of deceased hostages.

Although the exact numbers are unconfirmed, reports suggests there are 20 living hostages being held by Hamas, and the bodies of 28 deceased hostages.

Mr Trump said on Thursday hostages will be released on “Monday or Tuesday”.

Before the peace plan was agreed to, there was tension between negotiators over how the hostages would be exchanged. During previous handovers of hostages, horrific scenes played out as Hamas soldiers surrounded those being freed, who were paraded through heavily armed militants before being ushered into Red Cross vehicles.

Freed hostages are usually driven by charity organisations to a meeting point, where Israeli organisations take them by road or air to a hospital for medical examination, before they are reunited with their family and loved ones.

Palestinian prisoners released

After Israeli hostages have been returned by Hamas, Israel will begin the release and return of Palestinian prisoners.

Around 250 Palestinians are serving life sentences in Israeli jails, while around 1,700 Palestinians are being held as detainees.

As part of the prisoner release, Israel will return the bodies of around 15 Gazans who died in Israeli detention.

Flood of aid to enter Gaza

Following the commencement of the ceasefire, aid trucks are to start “flooding” into Gaza, with as many as 600 vehicles a day set to deliver much-needed aid.

Palestinian authorities have suggested that initially, the number of aid trucks will be 400 a day. However, they added that this would quickly increase as they attempt to curb wide-spread famine in the enclave.

Board of peace

After an enormous few days of a ceasefire beginning, hostages being released, prisoners being freed, military defence lines being adjusted and aid flooding in, focus turns to the future of what has been the most troubled region of the Middle East.

Gaza would commence operations under a temporary transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats, which would be supervised by Mr Trump’s “Board of Peace”.

The board, according to the US President , would be led by Mr Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The Gaza Strip would initially be governed under the Board of Peace supervision, but the long-term plans look to hand control over to a Palestinian authority in later years.

Continued negotiations

This historic moment is the most progress towards lasting peace the region has seen in living memory, however, peace negations must continue.

Mr Trump says neighbouring Middle Eastern countries will step in to help rebuild Gaza, promising a future of a “safer Middle East”.

Mr Trump’s 20 point-plan has more conditions that must be agreed to, which look to longer term “everlasting peace”, with those negotiations expected to be discussed in coming weeks as the region’s security and safety is restored.