January 2026
When Donald Trump imposed “Phase 1” of his so-called “peace” plan for a ceasefire in Gaza, the plan’s first phase was the only phase to have clear outcomes, which, albeit all of its shortcoming, bad faith and bias built within the plan, was supposed to alleviate the horrific suffering of Palestinians in Gaza in the face of Israeli crimes.
Three months later, Trump and Netanyahu are fully aligned on the way forward to pursue genocide on Gaza in other forms, continuing the colonial grip of the Israeli regime, covering-up crimes and pretending the ceasefire was successfully implemented. Meanwhile the International community is buying into the diplomatic theatrical of moving into a ‘phase 2’, eagerly awaiting the foreign entity that will govern Gaza , the ‘board of peace’ and awaiting to right checks to pay for what israel has destroyed.
It is important to summarize and compare the original plan with the reality of what unfolded on the ground. The Board of Peace is likely to be announced in the coming weeks, war criminal Netanyahu and Trump fully aligned on the “phase 2” it is important to compare the original plan with what has unfolded.
1. Cease‑Fire and Military Withdrawal
The Plan:
“The war will immediately end. All military operations will stop. Israel withdraws to the agreed ‘yellow line.’”
What Actually Happened:
- Israeli bombings and shootings continued, killing more than 370 Palestinians and injuring 900.
- on 28–29 October bombardments killed 109 people, including 52 children.
- The army shot a 16-year-old boy and ran over him with a tank in the Jabalia refugee camp .
- The Israeli army pushed 200–300 meters past the “yellow line” occupying 53% of the Strip, put concrete blocks and calls it “the new border”.
The Plan:
“Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement, all hostages—alive or deceased—will be returned.”
What Actually Happened:
- Prisoner exchanges eventually occurred, but delays stretched far beyond the promised 72 hours.
- Israel blocked delivery of agreed humanitarian equipment to Gaza, further slowing the process.
2. Prisoner and Remains Exchange
The Plan:
“Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.”
“After all hostages are released, Israel will free 250 life‑sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after Oct 7 (including all women and children). For each Israeli hostage’s remains returned, Israel will return the remains of 15 Palestinians.”
What Actually Happened:
- Prisoners exchanges took place but it took longer than agreed because Israel didn’t allow the agreed humanitarian equipment to be delivered to Gaza.
- The number of Palestinians behind bars has doubled since October 7. 9,500 Palestinian prisoners are kept in Israeli custody, including 350 children and 50 women.
- When the prisoners exchange took place, Israel illegally deported and exiled all life-sentences prisoners and did not inform most families of their whereabouts.
- Israel rearrested and raided homes of some of the prisoners who were released as part of the plan.
- Israel refused to release key figures such as Marwan Barghouti or Dr. Husam Abu Safiye.
- Israel keeps 460 bodies of killed Palestinians
3. Disarmament and Amnesty
The Plan:
“Hamas members who accept peaceful coexistence and disarmament will receive amnesty. Those wishing to leave Gaza will be granted safe passage to receiving countries.”
What Actually Happened:
- Israeli occupying forces have not accepted peaceful co-existence and disarmament, arms rogued militias and has used arms since the ceasefire.
- No amnesty process or safe-passage arrangements have been announced.
- Israel rejected all brokers’ efforts to release the 200 trapped Hamas members in Rafah tunnel and executed all of them.
4. Humanitarian Aid Flow
The Plan:
“Full aid will immediately enter Gaza with no interference. Distribution will proceed unhindered by either side.”
What Actually Happened:
- Only 20% of the planned 600 daily trucks carrying food, water, fuel, medicine, and shelter materials were allowed to enter.
- Nearly $50 million worth of vital aid is blocked .
- At least 124 International NGOs requests for cargo entry have been rejected since the ceasefire.
- 1.3 million people need emergency shelter.
- Israel is suspending major international aid groups from operating
5. Rafah Crossing
The Plan:
“Rafah crossing will open in both directions under the January 19 cease‑fire mechanism.”
What Actually Happened:
- Rafah remains closed. Israel announced it would open the crossing in one direction only allowing Palestinians to leave but not return.
- Only three crossings are currently open for goods: two reliably (KeremShalom/KaremAbu Salam, and Kissufim/Deir Al Balah), and a third one (Zikim/As Siafa) opened only sporadically in mid-November for the north.
- Rafah, Erez/Beit Hanoun, and Karni/Al Muntar remained closed for aid.
The obvious stark difference between Phase 1 and the unfolding reality underscores a broader reality: the world is being misled, deceived, and distracted to allow for entrenched colonial control of Gaza, continued deprivation of millions of displaced and injured people, and looming ethnic cleansing of Palestine. In our dystopian post-truth, post-legal order reality, diplomatic theatrics are playing a game of pretending progress and already discussing ‘phase 2’ as if phase 1 was successfully implemented so we must continue to offer clarity, push for Palestinian agency and international accountability and justice.