Palestinian children collect usable belongings from the rubble after the Israeli strike on Abu Hasira Street in Gaza City, Gaza, on September 30, 2025. Credit – Saeed M. M. T. Jaras—2025 Anadolu
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza, Trump announced, hailing what he called a “strong” and “durable” peace after more than two years of conflict.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday. “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!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his government on Thursday to approve the agreement, and thanked Trump and his team. “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” Netanyahu said in a post on X.
Hamas announced what it described as a deal “stipulating an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation’s withdrawal from it, the entry of aid, and a prisoner exchange.” In a post on Telegram, the group urged Trump and mediators “to compel the occupation government to fully implement the obligations of the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying implementation.”
Trump outlined the 20-point plan last week at the White House alongside Netanyahu. After Trump threatened Hamas last Friday to let “all hell” break loose against the militant group if they did not agree to the deal by Sunday, Hamas accepted the proposal in principle, requesting several adjustments.
Indirect talks in Egypt—mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Turkey—helped iron out the initial stage of the plan. Trump reportedly may travel to Egypt as soon as Saturday to oversee implementation.
Under Trump’s plan, the estimated 48 hostages still being held in Gaza—20 of whom are believed to be alive—are to be released. Once they have been returned, Israel is to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus an additional 1,700 Gazans detained after Oct. 7, 2023. This includes all women and children from Gaza held by Israel, according to the plan.
Although exact details have yet to be released, people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that Hamas is expected to release all 20 surviving hostages this weekend, while Israeli forces begin withdrawing from most of Gaza. According to the Associated Press citing a Hamas source, living hostages would be handed over within 72 hours of the Israeli government’s approval, with an Israeli government spokesperson saying the release could begin Saturday.
“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” Trump wrote, thanking “the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
Trump’s team included special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, while Israel was represented by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close Netanyahu confidant.
The hostages list is understood to include some of the most prominent Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, including Fatah leader Marwan al-Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine head Ahmed Saadat, both serving multiple life sentences for involvement in attacks that killed Israelis.
The agreement has raised questions about Gaza’s post-war administration, which could involve an international body including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Arab nations supporting the plan insist it must eventually lead to Palestinian independence, which Netanyahu has rejected. Hamas has said it would cede Gaza governance only to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab states.
Although Israel has reduced its military campaign at Trump’s urging, strikes have continued, with eight people reported killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours. Over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed with more than 169,000 also injured since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war was triggered when Hamas launched a terror attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking another 250 people hostage.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Contact us at letters@time.com.
