Trump Announces Historic Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a long-awaited Gaza ceasefire and hostage release under his 20-point peace framework. The deal, reached through indirect talks in Egypt, comes just after the two-year anniversary of Hamas’ 2023 attack that triggered Israel’s devastating war in Gaza.

Trump declared on Truth Social, “Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” adding that all hostages will be released soon as Israel withdraws troops to an agreed line. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he would convene his government to approve the agreement, stating, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”

Hamas confirmed the deal, which includes an Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange, while urging Trump and guarantor states to ensure Israel honors the ceasefire. According to sources, living hostages could be released within 72 hours after Israeli approval, with exchanges possibly beginning Saturday.

Trump credited mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, calling it a “GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, and the United States.” Senior envoys including Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff represented the U.S., alongside Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.

Key issues remain unresolved, including Gaza’s post-war governance and Hamas’ political future. Gaza authorities report over 67,000 deaths since the war began, while Israel cites around 1,200 killed in Hamas’ initial assault. The agreement’s next phase envisions an international body led by Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, though Arab nations insist it must lead to a Palestinian state.

If fully implemented, the ceasefire marks Trump’s most significant foreign policy achievement to date, offering renewed hope for peace and stability in the Middle East.