In what has been hailed as a historic breakthrough, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of Donald Trump’s long-awaited peace plan, marking the most significant step yet toward ending the two-year war that has devastated Gaza and shaken the Middle East.
The agreement, brokered after weeks of intense negotiations in Egypt involving US, Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish mediators, commits Hamas to releasing all remaining hostages while Israel begins a partial troop withdrawal from Gaza.
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Mr Trump described the development as a “historic and unprecedented event”, declaring it the first step toward peace in the Middle East.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan,” the US president said on his social media platform, Truth Social. “This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace. All parties will be treated fairly.”
He added: “This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations, and the United States of America. 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!”
The news came after Mr Trump abruptly left a White House roundtable meeting earlier on Wednesday when Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed him a note indicating that negotiators were “very close” to finalising an agreement.
Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was hopeful that all hostages would soon be safely returned.
“With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” he said.
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Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, welcomed the peace deal, urging both sides to uphold their commitments and move swiftly toward a permanent ceasefire.
“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner,” he said. “A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all.”
Mr Guterres also emphasised the importance of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza, warning that “the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies into the war-ravaged territory must be ensured.”
The deal is seen as the most tangible progress since hostilities reignited two years ago, leading to widespread destruction in Gaza, thousands of casualties, and deepening regional tensions.
While key details of the agreement remain undisclosed, diplomatic sources say the first phase will last 30 days, during which both sides are expected to uphold the ceasefire, release captives, and allow international observers to monitor compliance.
Observers have cautiously welcomed the deal but warned that the road to lasting peace will be fraught with challenges, including political resistance within both Israel and Gaza and the broader question of Palestinian statehood.
For now, however, the world is watching a rare moment of optimism in a region too often defined by conflict.
As one senior mediator told reporters in Cairo: “It’s only a first step, but for the first time in years, both sides are walking in the same direction.”
