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President Donald Trump said Israel and Hamas had agreed to terms for the release of all hostages held by the Palestinian militant group in Gaza, a major breakthrough in the US- and Qatari-brokered negotiations to end their two-year war.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said in a social media post Wednesday. “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.”
The deal is expected to see Hamas free the roughly 20 people taken during the October 2023 attacks that are still alive, alongside the remains of more than two dozen more who died in captivity. Israel would release almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners along with the troop movement, while aid to Gaza will be resumed.
If the agreement holds, it would mark a major step toward ending the conflict that erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and has thrown the Middle East into crisis. It would be a major diplomatic victory for Trump, who had presented a 20-point plan aimed at ending the conflict last week and appears likely to travel to the region to be on hand to celebrate a deal.
As negotiations were closing in on a deal, Trump earlier Wednesday told reporters he might go to the Middle East “some time toward the end of the week.” That could come on Saturday or Sunday, Trump said.
“I’ll be going to Egypt, most likely,” Trump said, adding in response to a question that he’d be go “maybe before the hostages are released or shortly thereafter.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, posting on X, called it a “great day for Israel” and said he would convene the government Thursday to approve the agreement.
“With the help of the Almighty, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors,” he wrote.
In a separate statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry said an agreement had been reached on “all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement,” which will bring about the release of prisoners and hostages on both sides, and the resumption of aid. It said details would be announced later.
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