US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a U.S.-brokered peace plan to pause fighting in Gaza and release hostages, ending the two-year-old war.
Trump’s announcement followed an intense day of negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. According to reports, the agreement’s first
includes the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for several Palestinian prisoners, alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Trump’s 20-point peace framework, which formed the basis of the negotiations, also calls for Hamas’s disarmament and an internationally supervised reconstruction of Gaza.
The initial phase of the Gaza peace deal was confirmed by Israeli officials, Hamas, and mediator Qatar. In a statement, Hamas said it has reached an agreement to end the war in Gaza, saying the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement, describing it as a great day for Israel. The agreement was reached just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
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Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire framework that will allow for the swift release of all hostages held in Gaza, Israeli withdrawal to an agreed point and the release of some Palestinian prisoners.
President Donald Trump said the hostages are likely to be released on Monday. His announcement of the agreement did not address some sticking points in the proposal, including Hamas disarmament and the future governance of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement was a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory” for his country. Hamas thanked Trump and all mediators involved: Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and hostages previously released by Hamas celebrated the news. Palestinians in Gaza celebrated the agreement, cautiously hoping it will bring an end to Israel’s war.
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Turkey: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his “special thanks” to President Donald Trump, who he said “demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire.” Erdogan said in an X post that Turkey, which was among the mediators involved, “will closely monitor the meticulous implementation of the agreement” and “continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established.”
Britain: “This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, as reported by Britain’s Press Association.
Canada: “Congratulations to President Trump for his essential leadership and thank you to Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye for their tireless work to support the negotiations,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said. “I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families.”
India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he hopes the release of the hostages and increased humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza would bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.
Pakistan: “The announcement of an agreement that will bring an end to the genocide in Gaza is a historic opportunity to secure lasting peace in the Middle East,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.
Australia: “After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a joint statement. “We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan.”
New Zealand: “President Trump’s announcement … is a watershed moment in a conflict that has killed too many,” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.
“New Zealand welcomes the news and hopes this provides a platform for a lasting solution where future generations of Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and security.”
Argentina: President Javier Milei congratulated his US counterpart, calling the agreement historic and an “extraordinary contribution to international peace,” on X.
- Hamas’ response: The group said in a statement that the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump proposal. Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements all the agreed-upon provisions without delay or changes.
- Israel’s response: Netanyahu said he would convene the Israeli government on Thursday to approve the deal. “I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.
- Unanswered questions: 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 demilitarize, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday in announcing the outlines of the biggest breakthrough in months in the two-year-old war.
“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 wrote on social media. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”
Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas said separately that the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as allow for the entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners