Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan for Gaza a ceasefire and hostage deal marking a potential turning point in the bloody two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.
The breakthrough came on Wednesday, a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’ cross-border assault that triggered Israel’s devastating campaign in Gaza. Following indirect talks in Egypt, both sides accepted the initial stage of Trump’s 20-point peace framework aimed at ending the conflict.
If fully implemented, the agreement could represent the most significant progress yet toward halting a war that has drawn in Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, isolated Israel internationally, and reshaped regional dynamics. However, the deal announced by Trump on Wednesday evening left several key details unresolved, raising concerns that it could collapse like previous peace efforts.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social. “This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed upon line the first step toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the development, saying, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” referring to hostages still held by Hamas. He said he would convene his cabinet on Thursday to formally approve the deal.
Hamas confirmed the agreement, stating it includes an Israeli troop withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group urged Trump and international guarantors to ensure that Israel fully upholds the ceasefire.
Trump said he might travel to Egypt this weekend to oversee the next steps of the agreement, adding, “All parties will be treated fairly! This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations, and the United States.” He also thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for helping to broker the deal.
Talks in Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh were attended by senior envoys from the U.S., Qatar, and Turkey. Trump sent his son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, while Israel was represented by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close ally of Netanyahu.
According to Gaza authorities, more than 67,000 people have been killed and much of the enclave reduced to rubble since Israel launched its military response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel believes around 20 of the remaining 48 hostages are still alive.
Hostage Release Within Days
A Hamas official said the surviving hostages would be released within 72 hours of Israel’s cabinet approving the agreement, while retrieving the remains of deceased hostages would take longer. An Israeli government spokesperson said the first releases could begin as early as Saturday.
Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone to congratulate each other on the “historic achievement.” The Israeli leader also invited Trump to address Israel’s parliament, according to his office.
The Israeli prime minister, under mounting pressure from hostage families and a weary public, has faced growing tension within his far right coalition, with some members threatening to quit if too many concessions are made to the Palestinians.
UN Secretary General António Guterres urged all sides to fully implement the agreement and allow immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. “The suffering must end,” he said.
Hamas submitted lists of hostages and prisoners it wants exchanged, reportedly including high profile Palestinian detainees such as Fatah leader Marwan al-Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine head Ahmed Saadat both serving multiple life sentences for attacks that killed Israelis.
Key sticking points remain, including a clear timeline for Israeli withdrawal and guarantees of a full pullout, according to sources familiar with the talks.
While Israel has scaled back its military operations at Trump’s request, limited airstrikes continue. Gaza’s health authorities reported eight deaths from Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours the lowest daily toll in weeks.
Arab States Call for Palestinian Statehood
The next stage of Trump’s plan envisions an international body led by Trump and involving former British Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing Gaza’s post-war governance. Arab countries supporting the initiative insist it must lead to an independent Palestinian state, a prospect Netanyahu has publicly rejected.
The question of who will govern Gaza after the war remains unresolved. Israel, the U.S., and its allies have ruled out any future role for Hamas, while the group says it would hand over administration to a technocratic Palestinian government under the Palestinian Authority, supported by Arab and Muslim nations. It rejects any foreign led administration or Blair’s involvement.
Global outrage over Israel’s military campaign has continued to grow. UN investigators, human rights groups, and scholars have accused Israel of committing acts amounting to genocide a charge Israel denies, maintaining that its operations are self-defense following the 2023 Hamas attacks.
