Trump: Israel and Hamas Reach Deal on First Phase of Historic Peace Plan
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have officially agreed to the first phase of his Middle East peace plan, marking a major breakthrough in ending the ongoing war in Gaza.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump declared on Truth Social. “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 hailed the moment as a victory for all parties involved, calling it “a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America.” He also thanked the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their crucial role in brokering the deal. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” Trump concluded.
Hostage Release and Military Withdrawal
According to terms of the agreement, Hamas is expected to release 20 living hostages this weekend, with the Israeli cabinet set to formally approve the deal on Thursday. Hamas is also responsible for the remains of 28 dead hostages, though it remains uncertain whether the group can recover all of the bodies.
Once Israel’s cabinet gives the green light, Hamas will have 72 hours to return the hostages, and Israel will have 24 hours to begin pulling its forces from central Gaza to a previously agreed-upon boundary line.
Deal Hinges on Prisoner Swap
The agreement follows a framework outlined by Trump last week, which proposed a full release of hostages held by Hamas—including both living and deceased—in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
While both sides reportedly made progress, negotiations had hit a roadblock over concerns from Israeli officials that Hamas may be unable to recover and return the remains of all hostages killed during the conflict. Despite that, progress accelerated over the past few days in Egypt.
Diplomatic Push in Sharm el-Sheikh
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have been meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside key mediators from the region. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were both expected to arrive earlier this week to assist in finalizing the terms.
Additional top-level mediators included Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, signaling serious regional support for the Trump-led framework.
What Comes Next
If the agreement holds, it would represent the first major de-escalation in Gaza since the conflict reignited more than two years ago. Trump’s peace plan lays out a phased roadmap, beginning with a humanitarian exchange and troop repositioning, and aims to eventually establish a permanent ceasefire and a recognized pathway toward a Palestinian state.
While the initial phase still requires final sign-off from the Israeli cabinet, the announcement marks a major step forward for the Trump administration’s effort to end the war and reshape the diplomatic landscape in the Middle East.