US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace framework aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners.
The announcement follows Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Gaza war, unveiled last week, which has been broadly welcomed by Israel, Hamas, and several world governments.
More than 67,000 people have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, which United Nations investigators and rights organizations have described as potentially genocidal.
What Trump announced
In a post on Truth Social at 11:17 p.m. GMT, Trump said both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first step of the ceasefire plan.
He wrote that all captives would be released “very soon,” and that Israel would pull back its troops to an agreed line under the deal’s first stage.
Trump added that “all parties will be treated fairly,” and thanked Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye for mediating the talks.
Earlier in the day, during a White House event, Trump told reporters that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had informed him “we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East,” adding that he might travel there soon to help finalize it.
“This is a big one,” Trump said. “We’re going to end this war and start building peace.”
Key details still unclear
While the deal marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in Trump’s efforts to end the eight-month war, several critical details remain uncertain.
Analysts say the agreement’s timing and scope of Israeli troop withdrawal, as well as Gaza’s post-war governance, have not yet been finalized.
Trump’s plan envisions Hamas releasing all captives as part of the first phase, after which hostilities would cease. However, Israeli officials maintain the war will only end once Hamas is fully disarmed.
Possible timeline
Trump told Fox News that the captives could be released as early as Monday, including the return of bodies of those killed.
A Hamas official said the group would begin releasing captives within 72 hours of Israel’s cabinet approval. Israeli media reported that the process could start on Saturday.
Around 20 Israeli captives are believed to remain alive in Gaza. Hamas and allied groups captured about 250 people during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed more than 1,100 people.
Reactions from Israel and Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the deal as “a great day for Israel.”
“I offer my heartfelt thanks to President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said. “With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and enhance peace with our neighbors.”
Hamas issued a statement confirming that the agreement calls for “an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation’s withdrawal, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange.” The group thanked Trump, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye for their roles and urged “full implementation without delay.”
What’s next
Netanyahu said his cabinet will vote on the agreement Thursday. Once approved, Israeli forces will begin a phased withdrawal, and Hamas will start releasing captives within three days.
Trump is expected to travel to Egypt in the coming days and could address Israel’s parliament at Netanyahu’s invitation.
The next phase of Trump’s peace plan includes the creation of an international “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war reconstruction. Trump would chair the body, alongside global leaders including former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The announcement marks the first concrete diplomatic progress toward ending the Gaza war since it began — though analysts caution that implementation challenges and deep mistrust between the parties could still threaten the fragile agreement.
