Israel and Hamas agree on first phase of peace deal to end Gaza war

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause fighting and release hostages and prisoners held in Gaza, bringing the strongest hope yet of ending a two-year conflict that has killed tens of thousands and destabilised the Middle East.

Donald Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social network, stating all hostages held in Gaza would be released soon and Israel would withdraw troops to an agreed line as the first step towards “everlasting peace”.

Celebrations erupted in Israel and Gaza following the announcement. Crowds gathered near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, clapping and cheering in what one Palestinian described as “historic moments” after two years of conflict.

Einav Zangauker, mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, celebrated her son’s imminent return, saying: “Thank you to the people of Israel, to the soldiers, thank you to President Trump”.

Trump thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in his Truth Social post, writing: “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”.

Hamas confirmed it reached the agreement after “responsible and serious negotiations” over Trump’s proposal. The deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the territory and a hostage-prisoner exchange, the group stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US “for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages” and said “with God’s help, we will bring them all home”. Netanyahu said he would convene the Israeli government on Thursday to approve the deal.

Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Deceased hostages will be released in later phases.

The Israeli army will withdraw from 70% of the area, they said. In exchange, several hundred Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be released.

Negotiators have met in Egypt in recent days to close gaps between Hamas and Israel over details of the first phase of a 20-point plan Trump announced at the White House last week.

The Hostages Families Forum, a grassroots organisation representing many hostage families, said it received news of the ceasefire with “excitement, anticipation, and apprehension”. The group called on the Israeli government to immediately convene to approve the deal and praised Trump for his “commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough”.

Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson, confirmed Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The agreement “will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid,” al-Ansari said, speaking on behalf of the mediators. He said details would be announced later.

World leaders have welcomed the development, with the British Prime Minister expressing “profound relief”.

It remains unclear whether the parties made progress on thornier questions about the conflict’s future, including whether Hamas will demilitarise as Trump has demanded and the eventual governance of the war-torn territory.