U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a “first phase” of a deal to secure peace in Gaza.
“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. All Parties will be treated fairly!” President Trump wrote.
Following the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a message.
“A great day for Israel. Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear captives back home,” Netanyahu wrote.
“With God’s help we will bring them all home.”
“the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announces reaching an agreement that stipulates ending the war on Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupation from it, the entry of aid, and the exchange of prisoners,” a representative for the group said in a statement. “We highly appreciate the efforts of the mediating brothers in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump aimed at permanently stopping the war and the complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.”
The announcement, one day after the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, comes as mediators from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt and Turkey have worked to secure a mutual path toward an end to the fighting.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the deal addresses “all terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.”
Speaking to Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Wednesday evening, President Trump said the release of hostages would occur by Monday.
At the end of September, President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House and unveiled what the president described as a “comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict” between Israel and Hamas.
