BURSTUS president Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners
Full report: ‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas
What we know so far about the ‘first phase’ of the Gaza ceasefire agreeement
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza, bringing the best hope yet of a definitive end to a bloody two-year conflict that has killed ten of thousands, destabilised much of the Middle East and prompted protests across the world.
Donald Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social network saying all of the hostages held in Gaza would be released soon and Israel would withdraw troops to an agreed upon line as the first step to a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”.
In a post on Truth Social, thanking mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, Trump said: “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.”
Hamas said it had reached the agreement, confirming the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group said in a statement the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over Trump’s proposal.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US “for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages” and said “with God’s help, we will bring them all home.” Netanyahu said he would convene the Israeli government on Thursday to approve the deal.
In recent days negotiators have been meeting in Egypt to close gaps between Hamas and Israel over the details of the “first phase” of a 21-point plan announced by Trump in the White House last week.
Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The deceased hostages will come out in a later stage in phases. The Israel army will move out of 70% of the area, they said. In exchange, several hundred Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be released.
The Hostages Families Forum, a grassroots organisation representing many of the hostage families, said it received the news of a ceasefire with “excitement, anticipation, and apprehension.” The Forum called on the Israeli government to immediately convene to approve the deal, and praised Trump for his “commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough.”
A Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The agreement “will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid,” said Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, speaking on behalf of the mediators of the deal. He said the details will be announced later.
World leaders have welcomed the development, with the British prime minister expressing “profound relief”.
It was not immediately clear whether the parties had made any progress on thornier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarise, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory.
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