The ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas, primarily mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt, are based on a phased framework often referred to as the U.S.-brokered peace plan.

This plan's specific terms and conditions cover several critical areas, with the initial phase focusing on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian relief, while later phases address the more contentious issues of long-term security, governance, and reconstruction.

Phase 1: Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Actions

The first phase, which has been conditionally accepted and implemented to some degree, establishes the immediate framework for de-escalation and humanitarian relief.

Ceasefire and Withdrawal

• Cessation of Hostilities: An immediate and full cessation of hostilities is mandated, with all military operations suspended to allow for the implementation of other phase-one terms.

• Initial Israeli Withdrawal: Israeli forces are required to conduct a partial withdrawal from parts of the Gaza Strip, including most urban population centers, to pre-designated lines. Israel, however, retains control of roughly half of the enclave in this initial stage. This redeployment allows for the safe movement of other actions in this phase.

• Return of Displaced Persons: Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are permitted to return to their home areas, including in northern Gaza, though security warnings regarding areas still patrolled by Israeli forces have been issued.

Hostage and Prisoner Exchange

The most immediate and critical component of Phase 1 is the reciprocal release of captives.

• Hostage Release: Hamas and allied militants are expected to release all remaining Israeli hostages, both living and the remains of those deceased, within a 72-hour window following the ceasefire's implementation. Officials estimate about 20 hostages are still alive, with the remains of approximately 28 more to be handed over.

• Palestinian Prisoner Release: In exchange for the Israeli hostages, Israel commits to releasing a significant number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. This exchange includes the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and an additional 1,700 individuals detained from Gaza since October 7, 2023, including all women and children detained during that period. A separate clause specifies that for every deceased Israeli hostage's remains released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

• Sticking Point on High-Profile Prisoners: A major ongoing point of contention remains the specific list of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has reportedly insisted on the release of high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, but Israel’s published list for Phase 1 did not include them.

Humanitarian Aid Surge

• Full Aid Provision: The agreement mandates the immediate provision of "full aid" into the Gaza Strip to address the severe humanitarian crisis and famine conditions in some regions. This aid includes essential supplies, fuel, and medical equipment.

• Aid Logistics: The plan calls for the entry of a minimum of 400 aid trucks daily, expected to increase, with distribution to be handled by the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other international institutions not affiliated with either party.

• Border Opening: The plan requires the full reopening of Gaza's crossings, including Rafah crossing, for the unimpeded flow of aid and movement of people according to an agreed-upon mechanism.

Subsequent Phases and Major Sticking Points

The more enduring, politically sensitive, and unresolved issues are deferred to later phases of the agreement, which require further negotiation. These issues constitute the major sticking points that threaten the long-term durability of the deal.

Disarmament and Demilitarization

• Hamas Disarmament: The U.S. plan calls for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, which includes Hamas and other militant factions decommissioning their weapons and dismantling military infrastructure, such as tunnels and weapons production facilities. The ultimate goal is for Gaza to be a "de-radicalized terror-free zone."

• Amnesty and Exile: The framework includes provisions for offering amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and safe passage to receiving countries for those who wish to leave Gaza.

• Sticking Point: Hamas has strongly resisted the demand for full disarmament, with some officials indicating a willingness to only hand over "offensive weapons" or refusing to surrender arms until Israel's "occupation" has ended. This is a crucial sticking point, as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government, particularly its far-right partners, views the complete demilitarization and destruction of Hamas as a primary war aim and a prerequisite for full Israeli withdrawal.

Future Governance of Gaza

• Transitional Governance: The plan proposes that Gaza be governed temporarily by a "technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee" under the supervision of a new international transitional body, a "Board of Peace," potentially headed by the U.S. President. This body would oversee governance and reconstruction until the Palestinian Authority (PA) undergoes a process of significant reform.

• Exclusion of Hamas: A core condition of the framework is that Hamas will have no role, direct or indirect, in the future governance of the territory.

• Role of the Palestinian Authority: The long-term plan envisions the Palestinian Authority (PA), which governs parts of the West Bank, eventually assuming control of Gaza following its reforms and the establishment of a unified Palestinian administration.

• Sticking Point: Netanyahu and his coalition partners have explicitly rejected a future role for the PA in Gaza, aiming to keep Gaza and the West Bank separate. Hamas, while accepting a transitional government of "independents," also rejects the PA's current form and insists on a government based on "Palestinian national consensus." The question of who will govern Gaza remains one of the most significant unresolved obstacles.

Israeli Withdrawal and Security

• Full Withdrawal Timeline: The U.S. plan calls for a complete, staged withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The timeline and conditions for this full withdrawal are deliberately vague, as the Israeli side seeks to tie it to milestones in Hamas's demobilization and the establishment of a new security framework. The initial withdrawal in Phase 1 leaves a significant Israeli presence.

• International Stabilization Force (ISF): The framework proposes the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF), composed of U.S., Arab, and European personnel, to oversee security, train a Palestinian police force, and secure borders.

• Sticking Point: Hamas has rejected the deployment of any international force. Furthermore, Israel aims to retain a long-term security perimeter in Gaza, maintaining a security buffer zone, a condition that is likely to be opposed by both Hamas and regional partners. The vagueness of the full withdrawal timeline makes Hamas and other parties concerned that Israel will not honor the later stages of the agreement once all hostages are released.

Reconstruction and Long-Term Vision

• Large-Scale Reconstruction: The plan includes a commitment to large-scale reconstruction and redevelopment of the war-torn Gaza Strip, including infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), hospitals, and bakeries. The economic planning for this is intended to be led by the new Palestinian administration, supported by Arab and international partners.

• Non-Annexation and No Forced Displacement: Israel commits to neither occupying nor annexing Gaza and promises that no one will be forced to leave the territory.

• Palestinian Statehood: The framework discusses the recognition of Palestinian statehood as a long-term possibility, contingent upon successful reconstruction and necessary reforms within the Palestinian Authority, though the current Israeli government has explicitly ruled this out.

In summary, while the initial phase of the agreement addresses the immediate priorities of ceasefire, prisoner exchange, and humanitarian aid, the enduring conflict-ending conditions, particularly Hamas's disarmament, the future governance of Gaza, and the full Israeli withdrawal, remain unresolved and are the main obstacles to a permanent peace agreement.