Israel and Hamas have reached a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage agreement, marking the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the Gaza war, which has claimed more than 67,000 lives and reshaped the Middle East
The announcement came a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s cross-border assault that triggered Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza. Indirect talks held in Egypt produced agreement on the opening stage of Trump’s 20-point framework aimed at restoring peace to the Palestinian enclave.
If fully implemented, the accord could bring both sides closer to ending the conflict than any previous attempt. The Gaza war has evolved into a wider regional crisis involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, deepening Israel’s diplomatic isolation and reshaping regional alliances.
News of the deal prompted scenes of celebration in Israel, Gaza, and beyond. In Israel, families of hostages lit fireworks, while Palestinians cheered in the streets, hopeful for an end to months of bloodshed.
“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed abd Rabbo, a resident of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
“I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed.”
Trump announced the agreement late Wednesday but gave few details, leaving key issues unresolved and raising fears the deal could still unravel, as previous peace efforts have done.
“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 their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” he added.
If the plan holds, it would mark a major foreign policy success for Trump, who has pledged to end major global conflicts but has struggled to deliver quick results, both in Gaza and in Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his government on Thursday to approve the deal.
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home,” he said. “This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”
Hamas confirmed it had reached a deal to end the war, saying it includes an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a prisoner-hostage exchange.
“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge – never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved,” the group said.
Authorities in Gaza say more than 67,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its military response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Israeli officials believe 20 of the remaining 48 hostages are still alive.
Despite hopes of ending the war, major questions remain unanswered, including the implementation timeline, postwar administration of Gaza, and Hamas’s future role.
Hostage Release Expected Within Days
Following the announcement, families of Israeli hostages gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “President Trump, thank you very much. We thank him, our children will not have returned home without him,” said Hatan Angrest, whose son Matan is among those held in Gaza.
A Hamas official said living hostages would be released within 72 hours of Israeli cabinet approval, while efforts to retrieve the bodies of about 28 others could take longer.
Trump told Fox News’ Hannity that hostages would “probably be released on Monday.”
The Israeli military warned Gaza residents that some areas remain active combat zones. Returning to Gaza City is still “extremely dangerous,” a military spokesperson said Thursday.
Netanyahu and Trump later spoke by phone, congratulating each other on what they called an “historic achievement.” Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli leader invited Trump to address the Knesset.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to honor the deal. “Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end,” he said.
Earlier, Hamas confirmed it had submitted lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners for exchange. The group has rejected Israel’s demand to disarm, saying it will not do so while Israeli forces occupy Palestinian land.
Arab States Insist Plan Must Lead to Palestinian State
Oil prices dropped after the ceasefire announcement eased fears of supply disruption.
The next phase of Trump’s plan envisions an international body led by Trump and joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s postwar governance.
Arab countries supporting the plan insist it must ultimately lead to a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu has ruled out.
Who will govern Gaza after the war remains uncertain. Israel, the U.S., and regional powers have excluded Hamas from any future administration.
Hamas says it would hand over authority only to a technocratic Palestinian government under the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim states. The group rejects any foreign-led oversight.
“What we saw announced tonight was specific to the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners after long and arduous negotiation,” said Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, director of Realign for Palestine at the Atlantic Council.
“I would personally venture out to say that the war is far from over and that we don’t know what happens after this phase is over.”
Global outrage over Israel’s assault continues to mount. U.N. investigators, scholars, and rights experts accuse Israel of committing genocide, a charge Israel rejects, saying its actions are self-defense following the 2023 Hamas attacks.
