President Trump announced Wednesday that a ceasefire had been reached between Israel and Hamas, paving the way for the release of 20 hostages alive and aid to nearly 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Trump said the two sides had signed “the first phase” of a peace plan he announced late last month, a major reprieve to end more than two years of war since Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
“This means that ALL hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops along an agreed line as the first step towards a strong, lasting and eternal peace. All parties will be treated fairly!” ” Trump said in a post on his social media site Truth Social.
“This is a GREAT day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event happen. Blessed are the peacemakers!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement minutes later. “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” he said, referring to the hostages. Hamas also holds the bodies of 28 hostages.
Netanyahu said he would convene the government tomorrow “to approve the deal and bring all our beloved hostages home.”
The ceasefire agreement comes after Hamas and Israel agreed last week to begin negotiations, with senior officials arriving in Egypt on Monday to consolidate the deal.
Full details of the ceasefire agreement were not immediately made public. Majed al-Ansari, advisor to the Prime Minister of Qatar, said in a post on social platform
Trump said Wednesday he may travel to the Middle East this weekend to oversee the ceasefire agreement.
The deal comes after Trump stepped up diplomatic efforts to end the war, after Israel carried out strikes against Hamas officials residing in Qatar and, without consulting the United States, Trump said he was “very unhappy” with the strike against a major US military ally and the lead negotiator in efforts to end the war.
Netanyahu, under pressure from Trump, agreed to the president’s 20-point plan to end the war with Hamas. The president relied on a coalition of leaders from Arab, Gulf and majority-Muslim countries to pressure Hamas to also accept the deal.
The ceasefire comes as Israel’s war against Hamas entered its third year on Tuesday. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, according to Gaza health authorities, at least half of whom are believed to be women and children.
Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza has turned global public opinion away from the country, after what was initially solidarity over the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas against civilians in southern Israel.
Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, have been indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and a case accusing them of genocide has been brought before the International Court of Justice.
Trump presents his 20-point plan as a path to lasting peace in the Middle East, but Hamas and Israel remain deeply divided on many issues beyond the initial ceasefire. Hamas has not agreed to completely lay down its arms and relinquish political power in the Gaza Strip, while Netanyahu has said he will never allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Updated: 7:33 p.m.
