Israel and Hamas agree to first phase of Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, marking a major breakthrough in efforts to end the two-year war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and shaken the Middle East.

The deal was reached on Wednesday after several days of indirect negotiations held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort. The talks involved senior envoys from the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, who worked together to finalize the first step of Trump’s 20-point peace framework.

According to initial reports, the ceasefire agreement includes an exchange of hostages and prisoners and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza. The move comes one day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war.

President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough late Wednesday on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote.

“All hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed line as the first step toward a strong and lasting peace.”

Trump also praised Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their mediation efforts, calling it a “great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, and the United States.” He added that he may travel to Egypt this weekend to oversee the early implementation of the deal.

In a statement, Hamas confirmed its agreement to the ceasefire and said the deal includes a complete Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange. The group emphasized that it remains committed to ending the war and urged guarantor nations to make sure Israel fully complies with the terms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the progress and said his government would meet on Thursday to formally approve the deal.

“With God’s help, we will bring all the hostages home,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

If fully implemented, the agreement could mark the closest step yet toward lasting peace since the start of the conflict. Analysts believe it may also strengthen Trump’s foreign policy record, especially ahead of the U.S. presidential election.