Israel, Hamas Agree To First Phase Of Gaza Peace Plan; Hostage Release Imminent, Says Trump
In a major breakthrough that signals an end to the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a US-brokered peace plan. The agreement includes a pause in fighting, the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and an initial Israeli troop withdrawal.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump declared in a post on social media. The announcement came after intense, indirect talks in Egypt involving negotiators from the US, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar, which focused on Trump’s 20-point peace framework.The deal was swiftly confirmed by all major parties.
Hamas issued a statement confirming an agreement to end the war, which includes an Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange, and called on Trump and other guarantor states to ensure Israel fully implements the ceasefire. An Israeli government spokesperson also confirmed the initial phase of the agreement.
According to reports, the exchange is set to happen within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation, with Hamas expected to release all 20 of its living hostages this weekend in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the announcement as a “great day for Israel” and said he would convene his government to approve the agreement.
In a post on X, he thanked President Trump and his team for their “sacred mission of releasing our hostages.” Israeli officials expect the hostage release to begin as soon as Saturday.While the deal marks the most significant step towards peace since the conflict began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, more contentious issues remain unresolved. The future governance of Gaza and the demilitarization of Hamas, both key demands in Trump’s peace plan, are yet to be finalized. Officials have stated that talks will continue in Egypt to address these complex matters in the next phases of the agreement.
