Compiled from news service reports
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to end the war in Gaza.
The first phase will consist of releasing the living and dead hostages. It is also expected that Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the hostages.
Israel will also gradually withdraw from Gaza.
President Donald Trump applauded the agreement, which was reached in Egypt and scheduled to be signed in the resort town of Sharm-el-Sheikh on Thursday.
Hamas Declares End to War with Israel
Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ exiled chief, declared an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
“We declare an end to the war today and [the] start of a permanent cease-fire,” he said in a televised speech.
Al-Hayya added that the agreement includes opening the Rafah border crossing to and from Egypt, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and guarantees from the United States, Turkey and Arab countries that the war in Gaza is permanently over.
Trump Invited to Address Knesset
Trump said Israel has invited him to address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. “I will do it if they want me to,” Trump said.
Trump told members of the press that he could be traveling to the Middle East on Sunday.
“We’re planning on leaving sometime Sunday, and I look forward to it,” he said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Trump added that he hoped to be in the Middle East when the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, are released. The president reiterated that he expects all of the hostages to return home on Monday or Tuesday.
Rubio: Peace Deal ‘Historic Moment’ for US
Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the peace deal between Israel and Hamas would not have happened if not for the work of Trump.
“I think it will go down as a historic moment in the history of our country, and something our country should be very proud of that,” Rubio said.
Rubio recapped the events leading up to the deal, saying it began with Trump’s trip to the Middle East in May, forging relationships with the nations in the region, and Trump’s “historic meeting” at the United Nations with not only Arab countries, but also Muslim-majority nations including Indonesia and Pakistan.
Rubio also emphasized that the road to peace was “a human story” and celebrated the fact that 20 living hostages will finally come home after more than two years.
“There’s a geopolitical aspect to it, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.
“It creates the conditions for Gaza to one day be a normal place again, and people to have a better life, and Israelis to be safe. But yesterday was a human story,” Rubio said.
“Because of the work you put in, and honestly, not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President, but frankly, I don’t know of any American president in the modern era that could have made this possible because of the actions you have taken unrelated to this.”
Celebrations Sweep Israel and Gaza
Celebrations erupted across Israel and Gaza, as the region welcomes the agreement.
News of the deal sparked jubilation on both sides. In Gaza, Palestinians poured into the streets of Khan Yunis, singing, dancing and clapping in celebration. In Israel, families of hostages expressed gratitude to Trump for his role in brokering the agreement.
On Wednesday evening, several hostage families joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in a phone call with Trump.
A video shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum on X captured one family member saying: “Since you became a president, even before that, we trust you will fulfill the mission until every 48 of the hostages are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers.”
Lutnick also thanked Trump, Rubio, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law and former Middle East envoy, Jared Kushner, for their efforts.
Rebecca Bohbot, the wife of hostage Elkana Bohbot, shared her gratitude in a message on X.
“I have no words left — only tears of joy. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for bringing them all home soon. Thank you for making this happen. I am praying for the safe return of all the hostages, including Elkana,” she said. “We love you, President Trump.”
Large crowds also gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Thursday to celebrate the agreement. In Jerusalem, Israelis expressed gratitude to both U.S. and Israeli leaders.
“So happy to hear the hostages are coming back,” one resident told Reuters. “Thank you, Trump. Thank you, Netanyahu.”
Some in the crowd were chanting that Trump should receive the Nobel Prize.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had put forward Trump’s name in July, said on Thursday that Trump was deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. The call comes just a day ahead of the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner in Norway. Nominations for the prize were finalized before the Israel-Hamas peace deal was announced.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents relatives of most of the Israeli hostages, invited the public to join them in solidarity, writing, “It’s not over until everyone comes home.”
Speaking from the square, Rotem Cooper — the son of Amiram Cooper, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, 2023, and later murdered in captivity — said in an interview with the Jewish Chronicle: “We’re like soldiers who went through a battle. There is no sense of relief, not yet. There would be a sense of relief when we see live hostages coming back.”
A recent poll by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute found that 66% of Israelis believe the time has come to end the war in Gaza. Those numbers reflect an increase of 13 percentage points from the same period last year.
The leading reason cited for ending the conflict was concern for the safety of hostages, mentioned by 50.5% of Jewish respondents and 34.5% of Arab respondents. The poll surveyed 800 respondents in Hebrew and 200 in Arabic, constituting a representative sample of the Israeli population over 18.
World Reactions
World leaders also expressed gratitude to Trump for leading the peace efforts.
U.N. Secretary-General António Gutteres on Thursday commended the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in brokering what he described as “the desperately needed breakthrough.”
“For Israelis and Palestinians alike, this deal offers a glimmer of relief, and that glimmer must become the dawn of peace, the beginning of the end of this devastating war,” he said.
Leaders from across Europe and the Middle East welcomed the deal and urged its implementation.
Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday that the Israeli Security Cabinet would meet at 5 p.m. local time, followed by a government meeting at 6 p.m.
The war in Gaza has raged since Oct. 7, 2023, when terrorist groups led by Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing more than 250 hostages. An estimated 20 hostages are still believed to be alive in captivity.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday evening. “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.”
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 67,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict. The figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians and includes some deaths from natural causes. The figures have not been independently verified.
Under the deal, fighting will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will free all remaining hostages it captured in the attack that precipitated the war, in exchange for hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. Fleets of trucks carrying food and medical aid would also be allowed into Gaza under the plan.
The United Nations said that it would provide its full support to the Gaza cease-fire agreement and would move to send aid to Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday morning.
“To turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns,” he said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is “greatly pleased” that the negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resulted in a cease-fire in Gaza.
“I extend my special thanks to U.S. President Mr. Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire, as well as to our brotherly countries Qatar and Egypt, which provided significant support in reaching the agreement,” Erdogan wrote on X, in an English translation from Turkish.
“We will continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, independent, sovereign, and possessing territorial integrity.”
Trump: Iran in Favor of Israel-Hamas Deal
Trump said that Iran is in favor of the agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“Iran’s different, but Iran wants to work on peace. Now they’ve informed us, and they’ve acknowledged that they’re totally in favor of this deal. They think it’s a great thing, so we appreciate that, and we’ll work with Iran,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.
“As you know, we have major sanctions on Iran and lots of other things. We would like to see them be able to rebuild their country, too, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Hamas Says Israel to Release 2,000 Prisoners
Approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released by Israel as part of the U.S.-mediated deal to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages, according to Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official.
That total includes 250 prisoners serving long sentences, and 1,700 who were taken prisoner during the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
“We have put the names of all the commanders that we want released,” Hamdan said.
“The Israelis should withdraw from all heavily populated areas, especially Gaza City, Khan Younis, Rafah and north Gaza,” he added.
However, one prisoner Israel said it would not release is Marwan Barghouti. Arrested in 2002, he is serving five life sentences for deadly attacks carried out during the 2000 intifada.
Barghouti is considered a popular Palestinian political figure and is seen by many to be a possible successor to the Palestinian Authority’s recognized president, Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti was a leader of Hamas’ rival group, Fatah.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the chief of the general staff issued instructions for forces to prepare for the return of the hostages. Preparations to transition to the new deployment lines are already underway. However, all forces are told to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario.
Hamas Does Not Accept Trump-Blair ‘Board of Peace,’ Official Says
Hamdan rejected a proposed transitional authority in Gaza led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“All factions, including the Palestinian Authority, does not accept that. No one accepts the return to mandate and colonialism,” he told pan-Arab Al-Araby TV on Thursday.
When asked about Hamas having no role in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, Hamdan said the enclave would be led by “independent Palestinian personalities.”
Regarding the resumed flow of humanitarian aid, Hamdan expects roughly 400 to 600 trucks with food, medical equipment, and fuel to enter Gaza daily after the deal is cemented.
The Palestinian delegation insisted during negotiations that the United Nations and other international groups be among those who distribute the aid, Hamdan said.
“These organizations have a good reputation of dealing with people, and they don’t have to bring mercenaries and retired soldiers to open fire at the Palestinian people,” he added.
US Political Leaders Welcome Agreement
U.S. political leaders expressed optimism about a lasting peace in Gaza after Trump announced Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the deal.
In a post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called the agreement a “truly historic achievement.”
“Through strength and conviction, [Trump has] accomplished what others have only talked about: bringing hostages home, security for Israel, and laying the groundwork for lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said he was “beyond thankful and grateful that it appears the hostages will be released,” and that a cease-fire will take effect. He added that Hamas must completely disarm and be “written out of the future of any Palestinian government.”
Graham ended his comments, saying, “Well done, Mr. President.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that if the agreement goes into effect, it will bring a “huge sigh of relief to the hostage families, to all of Israel, and to Palestinians who have suffered for so long in this horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”
He noted his commitment to ensuring that all hostages are returned home, and said, “The work is not over, but any step to end this nightmare is one that should be celebrated and carefully implemented and followed through on.”
Jackson Richman T.J. Muscaro, Jack Phillips, Savannah Hulsey Pointer, Jacob Burg and Reuters contributed to this report.
