Israel and Hamas have agreed to first phase of peace plan: Trump

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, in a major breakthrough in the two-year-old war, the Associated Press reported.

“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,” Trump wrote on social media.

The Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.

Hamas will release 20 living hostages at the same time as part of the first phase of the deal, a Palestinian source close to the negotiations said, AFP reported.

A top official within Hamas told AFP Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners: 250 among those serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the start of the war.

The exchange should take place within 72 hours of the implementation of the deal, which was also "agreed with Palestinian factions", another source within Hamas said.

A daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid will enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire, to be increased in the following days, according to the same source.

It also provides for the "return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north immediately," they added.

The deal stipulates "scheduled withdrawals" of Israeli troops, the Hamas top official said, and includes "guarantees from President Trump and the mediators".

As early as Saturday

Israeli hostages may be released as early as Saturday under a US plan to end the war in Gaza, and the country's military will complete the first part of a partial withdrawal from the enclave within 24 hours of the deal being sealed, said a source briefed on details of the agreement, Reuters reported.

The signing of the agreement is expected to take place at noon Israel time (0900 GMT) on Thursday, said the source.

Israel's security cabinet and government are due to hold meetings on the agreement at 5 p.m. Israel time (1400 GMT).

Entry of aid, exchange of prisoners 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas said separately that the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as allow for the entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners, the Associated Press reported.

Exhausted by months of brutal bombings, some Palestinians were skeptical yet impatient to see the first phase of the Trump peace plan come into effect, just hours after the agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced.

Paramedic Saeed Awad said he was first skeptical about the possibility of a ceasefire because of previous failed attempts to end the war.

"They all ended in failure. So we didn’t really pay attention to this (round),” he said. When he first heard the news, Awad said, he had to check with others, seeking confirmation.

“We have been in this war and in this suffering for two years,” Awad said.

‘A Godsend day of relief’ 

Alaa Abd Rabbo, displaced from northern Gaza to Deir al-Balah, said the ceasefire deal is “a Godsend day of relief.”

He said he has been displaced from his home several times, to different parts of Gaza.

“We are tired. We have been displaced and this is the day we have been waiting for,” Abd Rabbo said.

“We want to go home, to tend to our affairs, to check on our homes. Even though there are no more homes, but we still want to go home. We want to work. We have been sleeping and staying on the streets.”

World leaders welcome announcement

World leaders on Thursday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, which could help end the two-year war in Gaza, AFP reported.

Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the announcement will bring an end to the genocide in Gaza and is “a historic opportunity” to secure lasting peace in the Middle East. He said President Trump’s leadership throughout the dialogue and negotiation process reflects his unwavering commitment to world peace.

He lauded the efforts of Arab and Muslim leaders for their role in the negotiations towards bringing an end to the conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. He paid tribute to the Palestinian people, "who have suffered in an unprecedented manner, one that should never, ever be repeated.”

Palestine 

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he hoped that the deal "would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution", leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Turkey 

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan singled out his US counterpart Donald Trump for praise, thanking him for demonstrating "the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire".

European Union 

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the deal "a major diplomatic accomplishment", which was "a real chance" to end the conflict and release the hostages.

Among European leaders, Trump ally Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy called it "extraordinary news". At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped it would pave the way for a "political solution".

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the developments were "encouraging" and that he was "confident" of a solution by the end of the week.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of Europe's most vocal critics of Israel's offensive in Gaza, said the civilian population should now be supported and "the atrocities experienced... never repeated".

United Kingdom  

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the "tireless" diplomatic efforts of mediators Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States, as well as regional partners, to secure what he said was a "crucial first step", AFP reported.

"This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza," he added.

China 

Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing hoped for a "permanent and comprehensive" ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, adding: "China advocates adhering to the principle that 'Palestinians should govern Palestine'."

World leaders have praised the peace agreement in Gaza brokered by Donald Trump, according to the AP.

Russia 

Kremlin said it hopes "actions" will follow the Gaza ceasefire deal.

Egypt 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed the announcement "to establish a ceasefire and end the war in Gaza after two years of suffering and woes".

He said the agreement, reached after days of talks in Egypt, was a "historic moment" that "does not only close the chapter of war. It also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability."

Argentine President Javier Milei applauded the deal, calling it historic, and said he would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed relief that the hostages would soon be reunited with their families and urged all parties to implement the agreed-upon terms promptly.

On Thursday, New Zealand’s government welcomed the announcement of the deal. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Israelis and Palestinians have suffered immensely and that “Today is a positive first step in bringing that suffering to an end.”

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also welcomed the agreement as a “major step” toward calming the situation and achieving a two-state settlement.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates welcomed the agreement, urging all parties to abide by its terms, the foreign ministry said.

‘Desperately needed breakthrough’

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas late Wednesday to begin the initial phase of a US-brokered peace deal while urging all parties to "abide fully by the terms of the agreement.”

Guterres said that the UN will support the full implementation of the agreement and is ready to scale up the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which has been sitting on the borders of Jordan and Egypt.

“I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,” he said.

‘Dangerous combat zone’

The Israeli military warned Palestinians in Gaza against returning north to Gaza City or approaching areas where troops are stationed until further notice.

Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the warning on X hours after Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phase of the Trump plan to pause the fighting and release hostages and prisoners.

“For your safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where (troops) are stationed or operating throughout” Gaza, he said.

Adraee said northern Gaza is “still considered a dangerous combat zone.”

Journalists celebrate peace deal

In Gaza City, where bombings had been heard in the early hours of Thursday before news of the deal, a few journalists roamed the dark streets of the city, shouting in jubilation that “the war has ended,” according to a video they posted on social media.

The journalists, laughing and jumping, shouted that most people who remained in the city had no internet and needed to be woken up to hear the news.

In the south of Gaza, a group of young men lifted another journalist on their shoulders as he broadcast the news to his channel, celebrating the ceasefire.

The journalist posted a video of the interaction on his social media. The men also performed a traditional Palestinian dance, Debka, on the streets, while singing. The war has badly severed communications and internet connections, and large parts of Gaza have had no connection, particularly during the night.

Immediate aid deliveries

President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, said the agreement announced by Trump finally offers “a ray of hope after more than 700 days of death, destruction, and despair.”

She said the moment must be seized to implement the agreement thoroughly, end the war in Gaza, release all hostages, and ensure “the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid.”

Baerbock said many world leaders at their recent meeting in the United Nations General Assembly stressed that a permanent ceasefire can open a path to peace, end Hamas’ rule in Gaza and Israel’s occupation, and lead to a two-state solution, the only way Israelis and Palestinians can live in lasting peace and security.

The former German foreign minister commended the US, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and many others involved “for their efforts to bring the suffering of Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians to an end.”

‘Nobel prize to Trump’ 

Families of hostages and their supporters started chanting “Nobel prize to Trump” as they gathered in the early hours of the morning in Tel Aviv's hostages square.

People gathered there after the agreement was announced, with freed hostages and families of those still captive cheering, singing, and crying at the news.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter told CNN that living hostages held by Hamas would be released on Sunday or Monday, with a 72-hour clock for Hamas to make the release begin once the Israeli Cabinet meets on Thursday evening to approve the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released in the agreement.

Leiter said that Israel hopes the deal will lead to an end to the war, but that will depend on how well it is implemented.

“We hope it leads to a complete cessation of hostilities and a rebuilding of Gaza for the sake of the Gazans and for the sake of Israel,” he said.

“But it’s the first stage, and we’ve got to see the first stage implemented completely in the next few days.”

Peace in the Middle East

“This is more than Gaza,” Trump told host Sean Hannity in a telephone interview with Fox News on Monday. “This is peace in the Middle East.”

Trump also said a future Gaza will be a “peaceful, much safer place” and that the US would remain involved to ensure its safety and prosperity.

“Other countries in the area will help it reconstruct because they have tremendous wealth,” Trump said, adding, “We’ll be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.”

Trump confirmed that he spoke to Netanyahu earlier Wednesday night. The prime minister told him, “I can’t believe it,” according to the president’s retelling.

“I said, ‘Israel cannot fight the world, Bibi, they can’t fight the world,’ and he understands that very well,” Trump said.

Hostage families welcome Gaza breakthrough

A senior Hamas official said the group has handed over a list of Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

Zaher Jabarin, who oversees Palestinian prisoners’ affairs, said in a statement that the list was prepared in accordance with “the criteria agreed upon in the agreement.”

He said the group is still “awaiting final agreement on the names,” and that they will be announced “once the relevant procedures and understandings are completed.”

‘Joy mixed with sorrow’

Eyad Amawi, a Palestinian aid coordinator displaced in central Gaza, says he has mixed feelings of happiness and sadness over the ceasefire deal.

“We believe and don’t believe. We have mixed feelings, between happiness and sadness, memories, everything is mixed,” he said.

Amawi said he hopes the deal is implemented as agreed so that people can return to their homes and begin to “renew the (will) and the hope for life” in Gaza, where many children are injured and rubble is everywhere.

His biggest fear, he said, is Israel putting obstacles to implementing the agreement. The eyes of the Palestinians in Gaza are on how the world will help Gaza rebuild.

“We need to fix everything here, especially the psychological effects to (continue) with our lives.” Amawi said the priority for him and everyone else is the return of the displaced to their homes.

He plans to return to Gaza City as soon as the deal takes effect to resume his work and life, and assist with the city's rehabilitation. He said the news of the deal came late in Gaza, so most people were asleep.

“The celebrations will be great. But also the sadness and the worries will be great,” he said. To the world, Amawi said: “We need you.”

'I can’t believe the news' 

A Palestinian man, Ayman Saber, reacted to the ceasefire announcement. The Khan Younis resident said he plans to return to his home in the city and try to rebuild his house, which was destroyed in an Israeli strike last year.

“I will rebuild the house, we will rebuild Gaza,” he said. 

Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandmother was freed and grandfather was killed in captivity, on Wednesday thanked world leaders for helping secure the newly signed agreement to release all hostages held in Gaza.

“We express our deepest gratitude as the historic agreement has been signed — the hostages, our brothers and sisters, are coming home,” Lifshitz said in a statement.

He thanked Trump for his “decisive leadership and unwavering commitment to bringing every hostage back within 72 hours.” Also, he praised the roles of Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari leaders and negotiators, citing their “personal dedication and relentless efforts.”

Lifshitz also expressed appreciation to Israel’s negotiation team and Netanyahu “for their determination and courage in achieving this vital agreement.”

Of the 20 hostages returned, four are from his community, including lifelong friends. “This united cooperation and shared moral responsibility have proven that when the right people stand together, humanity prevails” he said.

“It’s a huge day, huge joy,” Ahmed Sheheiber, a displaced Palestinian man from northern Gaza, said of the ceasefire deal.

Crying over the phone from his shelter in Gaza City, he said he is waiting “impatiently” for the ceasefire to go into effect to return to his home in the Jabaliya refugee camp.

‘Historic achievement’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President Donald Trump, and they congratulated each other on an agreement to release all the hostages, which Netanyahu’s office described as a “historic achievement”.

According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, the conversation was “warm and moving.”

Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “efforts and global leadership,” while Trump praised Netanyahu’s “determined leadership and the actions he led.”

Netanyahu to convene the Israeli government

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said he would convene the government on Thursday to approve the deal.

“I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said.

Trump was pleased with Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff for their work to close the first phase of the agreement after arriving in Egypt earlier on Wednesday, according to a person who has been briefed on the negotiations and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the delicate negotiations.

In the lead-up to Wednesday’s announcement, Israeli officials were pushing back on the inclusion of Marwan Barghouti, the most prominent Palestinian prisoner who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail, the person added.

Israeli officials made clear to the US that the release of Barghouti would set off the far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition.

It was not immediately clear which Palestinian prisoners, including Barghouti, would be included in the first phase of the deal, the Associated Press reported.