U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan, which includes a pause in fighting and the release of “hostages and prisoners.”
In a statement, President Trump claimed, “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 that “All Parties will be treated fairly!”
According to reports, Hamas will release all 20 living hostages on Saturday.
The initial agreement was confirmed by Israeli officials and Hamas, as well as the mediator, Qatar. The announcement follows days of negotiations in Egypt focused on a Trump-backed plan that aims for a permanent resolution to the two-year conflict and sustainable regional peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly posted on social media, “A great day for Israel. Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home. I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces, thanks to whose courage and sacrifice we have reached this day. I thank from the depths of my heart President Trump and his team for their mobilization for this sacred mission of releasing our hostages. With the help of the Almighty, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors.”
“With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” he said, referencing the hostages.
The war began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, a majority of whom were civilians. Israel’s ensuing military campaign has caused widespread devastation in Gaza and has reportedly resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians.
It remains unclear what, if any, progress was made on more complex issues, such as President Trump’s demand for Hamas’s demilitarization and the eventual governance of the war-torn territory.
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