What are the three phases of the Gaza ceasefire deal?

The 20-point Gaza peace plan being celebrated on Monday by US President Donald Trump and world leaders gathered in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh comes in three stages.

The implementation of the plan's first stage began when a ceasefire took hold in Gaza on Friday. On Monday, the process continued with the release of 20 living hostages held by Hamas and nearly 2,000 Palestinians who had been incarcerated in Israeli prisons.

Humanitarian aid also began to flow into Gaza, where acute hunger has been widespread. Many have died of starvation and famine has taken hold in parts of the Palestinian enclave.

Gaza’s 'ecological collapse' threatens recovery

Some remains of 28 hostages who died while in captivity were to be handed over by Hamas later on Monday. The handover of the rest of the bodies would signal the end of the first phase which, by all accounts, appears to be the easiest of the three.

Here's a breakdown of the plan's three phases:

Phase one

The immediate cessation of hostilities, with all military operations suspended and front lines frozen, and the release of all Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, within 72 hours.

Furthermore, the plan stipulates the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, including 250 who were serving life sentences and 1,700 who had been detained since the war began two years ago.

Humanitarian aid also begins to flow into Gaza, with some 500 to 600 lorryloads of supplies entering the territory every day.

Phase two

Negotiations to begin on the disarmament of Hamas, steps to ensure Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza and the de-radicalisation of the enclave, which has been under Hamas rule since 2007. This phase also offers Hamas leaders amnesty and safe passage out of Gaza and into exile.

It also provides for the creation of an international stabilisation force made up of US, Arab and European personnel to maintain security in Gaza. Also provided in this phase is the training by Egypt and Jordan of a Palestinian police force and the creation of a council of independent Palestinian technocrats to run the day-to-day affairs of Gaza under international supervision.

Phase three

The reconstruction of Gaza should begin in this phase with Arab and international funds. Also in this phase is the creation of the Board of Peace to oversee the governing and reconstruction of Gaza. This body will be chaired by President Trump himself and include former UK prime minister Tony Blair.

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Gaza peace plan: What happens now?

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yallacompare profile

Date of launch: 2014

Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer

Based: Media City, Dubai

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Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)

FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm

Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm

Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm

Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm

Thursday

Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm

Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm

FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm

Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer