‘First phase’ of ceasefire deal to end war in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners held in Gaza, bringing the best hope yet of a definitive end to a bloody two-year conflict that has killed ten of thousands, destabilised much of the Middle East and prompted protests across the world Hamas said on Thursday it had reached an agreement to end the war in Gaza following talks on a proposal by US president Donald Trump, saying the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. Hamas called on Trump and guarantor states to ensure Israel fully implements the ceasefire. The group also said it would release 20 hostages still alive this weekend, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. Responding to the announcement Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that “With God’s help, we will bring them all home”. Related: Gaza ceasefire talks live: Trump says Israel and Hamas have signed off on ‘first phase’ of peace plan Netanyahu described the development as a “great day for Israel” and said he would convene the government on Thursday to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement aimed at bringing home all the hostages. “I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said. Trump also announced the agreement on his Truth Social network saying that he was “very proud” to announce the first phase of the deal. “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.” The US president hailed what he said was a “great day” for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel and all surrounding nations, as well as the US. “We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he said. Many of the details of the agreement concluded after 3 days of indirect talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh remain unclear and challenges of implementing its terms are immense. But in recent days, negotiators have closed gaps between Hamas and Israel over the details of the first phase of the 21-point plan announced by Trump in the White House last week. The war began with Hamas’ 7 October, 2023, attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people, many of them civilians. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, devastated Gaza and upended global politics.