President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire, marking what he called “the first phase” of a new peace plan aimed at ending more than two years of devastating conflict in the Middle East.
The agreement, brokered with help from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, includes the release of 20 living hostages and a significant increase in humanitarian relief for nearly 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Trump said the accord is designed as a first step toward what he described as “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement shortly after Trump’s announcement, thanking God for the progress and vowing to bring all hostages home. “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” he said, noting that his government would meet Thursday to formally approve the agreement. Hamas continues to hold the remains of at least 28 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
The ceasefire follows a week of intensive negotiations in Cairo after both sides agreed to pursue talks last Monday. While key provisions of the deal remain undisclosed, Qatari adviser Majed al-Ansari said that the first phase will include a halt to hostilities, the release of hostages by Hamas, the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Trump indicated he may travel to the region this weekend to personally oversee the implementation of the ceasefire, a move he said would “solidify the beginning of lasting peace.”
The breakthrough comes after months of heightened tensions between Washington and Jerusalem. The U.S. president had reportedly expressed anger over an Israeli strike in Qatar that targeted Hamas officials without prior consultation with Washington. The incident prompted Trump to push Netanyahu to accept a 20-point peace framework aimed at ending the war and stabilizing the region.
Under mounting pressure from both international allies and domestic critics, Netanyahu ultimately agreed to Trump’s proposal. The plan was also endorsed by a coalition of Arab and Muslim-majority nations that urged Hamas to accept the terms.
The war, now in its third year, has left Gaza in ruins and taken a staggering human toll. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign in response to Hamas’s 2023 assault, which left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage. At least half of the Palestinian victims are believed to be women and children.
Israel’s handling of the conflict has drawn sharp global criticism, reversing early sympathy after the October 7 attack. The International Criminal Court has indicted Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, and the International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case against Israel.
While Trump hailed the ceasefire as a “historic and unprecedented event,” analysts caution that deep political and ideological divides remain. Hamas has not agreed to disarm or relinquish control of Gaza, and Netanyahu continues to reject the creation of a Palestinian state—two key issues that have derailed previous peace efforts.
