U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that both Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that hostages will be released soon and that Israel will withdraw its forces up to the agreed boundary lines under the new arrangement.
Meanwhile, Hamas has also declared its agreement to end the war, urging President Trump and the international community to ensure Israel’s full compliance with the peace deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the day as a “great day for Israel”, expressing hope that Hamas-held hostages will be freed soon. Implementation of the agreement will begin after approval by the Israeli Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Thursday.
According to the BBC, citing the White House, President Trump is preparing to visit the Middle East soon, although the exact date of his trip has not yet been confirmed. Reports indicate that Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediators held a seven-hour-long meeting with the Hamas delegation, and final discussions with the Israeli delegation are expected to follow.
Alongside the United States, Egypt and Qatar have been leading mediation efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages.
Two years ago, on October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. In response, Israel intensified its military offensive in Gaza.
According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, at least 67,183 people, including 20,179 children, have been killed in Gaza since then due to Israeli air and ground operations.
A senior White House official told CBS News that Israeli forces could begin withdrawing from Gaza within 24 hours of the Cabinet’s approval of the deal, and the release of Israeli hostages could start within 72 hours thereafter.
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