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Upcoming Negotiations in Egypt and Israel on Ceasefire After Trump’s Withdrawal Plan Announcement
As a new round of negotiations is set to begin today, Sunday, in Egypt regarding a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump announced overnight that Israel has expressed its approval for implementing the initial withdrawal step from the Gaza Strip. Trump wrote on his platform "Truth Social" that the ceasefire could be enacted immediately if Hamas agrees to the withdrawal plan, indicating that negotiations on hostage releases and confidence-building measures would follow, paving the way for the next phase of withdrawal.
Trump also posted a graphic outlining the proposed withdrawal plan from Gaza, explaining that the first stage involves Israeli forces retreating from northern Gaza through key areas such as Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahiya, and Gaza City, down to Rafah in the south, to carry out a phased departure from north to south.
The attached map shows that the areas around Rafah, Beit Hanoun, and the Philadelphia Corridor will be under Israeli control during the first phase, which is expected to start from northern Gaza and extend to its south, with a conditional commitment to releasing prisoners and bodies of martyrs. As of yesterday, no clear timetable had been set for the plan’s implementation, although American and Israeli officials emphasize the need to carry it out within a few days.
Meanwhile, the international community is watchful as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces will continue to control key areas and will work to disarm Hamas, either diplomatically or militarily, while keeping some troops inside the Gaza Strip. Israeli sources also reported that officials informed Washington of a plan involving staying in a buffer zone at the Gaza border, the “70-meter hill,” and strategic corridors along the Egypt border to ensure sustained Israeli control.
Regarding preparations, Netanyahu announced that an Israeli delegation has traveled to Egypt to discuss technical details of the implementation, indicating that negotiations are expected to last only a few days. Additionally, a White House official stated that Jared Kushner and his envoy Steve Weitzkopf have traveled to Cairo to discuss the hostage issue, confirming that indirect talks between Hamas and Israel will take place on Sunday and Monday.
