IDF readies for Phase 1 of U.S. plan, says Hamas accepts parts

Preparing for Phase One

The Israel Defense Forces said units are aligning logistics for Phase One of a U.S.-backed plan that pairs security corridors with humanitarian aid, AP News reported. The preparation involves repositioning three brigade-level forces along the Gaza perimeter and establishing coordination centers for international monitors and humanitarian convoys.

Commanders briefed reporters on staging areas near Gaza's perimeter to coordinate with international observers. The briefing revealed that the IDF has designated five entry points along the border where humanitarian trucks will be processed, with each checkpoint designed to handle up to 200 vehicles daily once fully operational.

The Phase One plan, developed over six weeks of intensive negotiations involving U.S. Secretary of State officials, Egyptian mediators, and Qatari diplomats, represents the most comprehensive framework for temporary de-escalation since hostilities intensified last year. Military planners described it as a "confidence-building sequence" designed to establish patterns of cooperation before tackling more contentious long-term arrangements.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi told senior officers that the military is "prepared to implement the plan professionally" while maintaining readiness to respond to any violations. Intelligence units have been tasked with monitoring compliance in real-time, using a combination of surveillance drones, ground sensors, and coordination with international observers.

The staging areas include forward medical facilities, fuel depots, and communications infrastructure to support what military officials describe as "sustained presence operations" that could last several months if Phase One succeeds in reducing tensions.

Hamas Response

Hamas leaders are signaling conditional acceptance of parts of the plan while seeking guarantees on prisoner exchanges, according to AP. Senior Hamas political official Khalil al-Hayya told mediators in Doha that the movement views Phase One as a "potential opening" but insists on written commitments regarding Israeli withdrawal timelines and prisoner release schedules.

They want assurances that any Israeli troops entering buffer zones will withdraw on a set timetable. Hamas negotiators have proposed a 72-hour cycle where Israeli forces establish security corridors, humanitarian aid flows through, and troops then pull back to pre-defined positions—a formula Israeli officials have not yet accepted.

The conditional acceptance marks a significant shift from Hamas's initial rejection of phased approaches, which the organization previously dismissed as allowing Israel to consolidate control incrementally. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that mounting pressure from Gaza's civilian population and mediation efforts by Qatar and Egypt influenced the change in position.

Hamas is particularly focused on the prisoner exchange component, seeking the release of approximately 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli detention in exchange for remaining hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has indicated willingness to discuss prisoner releases but only as part of a comprehensive package that includes long-term security arrangements.

Internal Hamas communications obtained by intelligence services suggest divisions within the organization, with military commanders in Gaza more skeptical of the plan than political leaders in Qatar. Military wing leaders reportedly fear that accepting phased arrangements could weaken their tactical position and expose leadership structures to Israeli targeting.

Regional analysts note that Hamas's conditional acceptance may also reflect pressure from Iran, which has encouraged the organization to avoid complete diplomatic isolation while maintaining resistance capabilities. The Islamic Republic has reportedly assured Hamas of continued support regardless of the organization's tactical decisions regarding Phase One.

Humanitarian Components

Aid agencies told AP they are readying warehouses in Egypt to move food and medicine once safe routes open. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has stockpiled 5,000 tons of food supplies, 500,000 liters of fuel, and medical equipment sufficient to support 100,000 people for one month at facilities in El-Arish and Rafah.

The plan includes checkpoints staffed by U.N. monitors to verify cargo, though Israeli officials insist on security scans. Each checkpoint will have a mixed team of three U.N. observers, two Egyptian liaison officers, and Israeli security personnel, with protocols requiring that all trucks undergo x-ray scanning and physical inspection before entering Gaza.

The World Food Programme has pre-positioned emergency food parcels designed for rapid distribution, while the World Health Organization has assembled mobile medical teams ready to enter Gaza within hours of receiving security clearance. These teams include surgeons, trauma specialists, and mental health professionals trained in conflict zone operations.

Water infrastructure experts from UNICEF have been studying satellite imagery to identify priority sites for emergency repairs. The organization estimates that restoring basic water access to Gaza's 2.3 million residents will require immediate repairs to at least 12 pumping stations and multiple pipeline segments damaged during hostilities.

Humanitarian coordinators acknowledge that Phase One's aid provisions fall short of Gaza's total needs, describing it as "emergency stabilization" rather than full relief. The plan allocates resources for 30% of the population's immediate requirements, with expansion contingent on successful implementation and movement to subsequent phases.

International NGOs including Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee of the Red Cross have expressed cautious support for the humanitarian framework while emphasizing that sustained access and security guarantees are essential. Several organizations have suspended operations in Gaza due to safety concerns and are waiting for concrete evidence that Phase One can provide safer operating conditions.

Allies on Alert

European diplomats said they will contribute funds if the first phase holds, but stressed that reconstruction cannot start without a broader political deal. The European Union has preliminarily allocated €150 million for immediate humanitarian response, with an additional €500 million contingent on sustained de-escalation and progress toward political negotiations.

U.S. officials added that progress could unlock specialized engineering teams to repair water and power systems. The Biden administration has identified U.S. Army Corps of Engineers units and private contractors specializing in post-conflict infrastructure who could deploy within weeks if security conditions permit.

France and Germany have jointly proposed a reconstruction supervision mechanism that would coordinate international assistance while ensuring transparency and preventing resource diversion. The mechanism would involve oversight by international financial institutions and require both Israeli and Palestinian representation in governance structures.

Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have indicated willingness to contribute substantial reconstruction funding but only within a framework that includes clear pathways to Palestinian statehood and governance reforms. Saudi officials told U.S. counterparts that Riyadh could mobilize up to $3 billion for Gaza reconstruction as part of broader regional normalization efforts.

The United Kingdom has deployed diplomatic teams to both Israel and neighboring Arab capitals to coordinate messaging and ensure Phase One has sufficient international political backing. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron emphasized that success requires "synchronized diplomatic, humanitarian, and security efforts" involving all regional stakeholders.

Risks Ahead

Military analysts warned AP that any rogue rocket fire could derail the timeline, forcing Israel to delay the phased rollout. The plan includes provisions for "verification periods" after any security incident, during which implementation would pause while investigators determine responsibility and parties assess commitment to de-escalation.

Both sides face pressure: Hamas from displaced families demanding relief, Israel from allies urging restraint. An estimated 1.8 million Gazans remain displaced from their homes, many living in temporary shelters with inadequate sanitation and limited access to food and medical care. This humanitarian crisis creates enormous pressure on Hamas to deliver tangible improvements.

Israel meanwhile faces diplomatic pressure from the United States and European allies who view Phase One as a test of Israel's willingness to pursue diplomatic solutions. The U.S. Congress has quietly indicated that continued military aid packages could face increased scrutiny if Israel is perceived as undermining de-escalation efforts.

Security experts identify several specific risks that could collapse Phase One: extremist factions within Gaza launching attacks to sabotage the agreement, Israeli political opposition forcing government hardliners to withdraw support, or misunderstandings at checkpoints escalating into violent incidents.

The timing of Phase One coincides with domestic political challenges in Israel, where Prime Minister Netanyahu faces pressure from right-wing coalition partners opposed to any arrangements that don't include permanent Israeli security control over Gaza. Political observers suggest Netanyahu is gambling that successful implementation could strengthen his position, but failure would likely accelerate calls for his resignation.

Regional intelligence services are monitoring splinter groups and extremist elements who oppose any form of accommodation. Both Israeli and Palestinian security forces have reportedly increased operations against hardline factions seeking to prevent Phase One's implementation through violence.