Israel and Hamas agreed to release hostages and Palestinian prisoners, paving the way to an end to the war. The Israeli cabinet to voting to approve the deal.
What to Know About Israel–Hamas Deal
- Israel and Hamas agreed on Wednesday to the first phase of a peace plan to end the war.
- The first phase will consist of releasing the living and dead hostages.
- It is also expected that Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the hostages.Israel will also gradually withdraw from Gaza.
- Trump applauded the agreement, which was reached in Egypt and will be signed in the resort town of Sharm-el-Sheikh on Thursday.
Witkoff, Kushner Meet With Netanyahu
Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, have been meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, according to the prime minister’s office..
Witkoff and Kushner flew from Egypt, where Israel and Hamas struck a deal to end the war in Gaza in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Trump Cites 8 Peace Deals Ahead of Nobel Prize Announcement
When asked about possibly winning the Nobel Peace Prize, President Donald Trump said that he has made “seven deals” to solve seven conflicts around the globe, with the Israel–Hamas war potentially the eighth.
“Look, I made seven deals, and now it’s solved the wars. One going 31 years, one going 34 years, one going 35 years, one going 10 years,” Trump said at the White House on Oct. 9.
“I don’t know what they’re going to do, really, but I know this: nobody in history has solved eight wars in a period of nine months,” Trump said, referring to the Norwegian Nobel Institute.
The president also said that he didn’t broker any deals for the purpose of a prize: “I did it because I saved a lot of lives.”
Trump appeared alongside Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who avoided saying outright whether Trump should win the peace prize, but said he believes Trump’s track record is “rather impressive.”
The Nobel Peace Prize winner is scheduled to be announced on Oct. 10 in Oslo, and nominations were finalized before the Israel–Hamas peace deal was announced this week.
Trump Leaving for Middle East on Sunday
President Donald Trump told members of the press that he could be traveling to the Middle East on Oct. 12.
“We’re planning on leaving sometime Sunday, and I look forward to it,” he said in the Oval Office on Thursday.
Trump added that he hoped to be in the Middle East when the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, are released. The president reiterated that he expects all of the hostages to return home on Oct. 13 or 14.
By T.J. Muscaro
Finnish President Congratulates Trump on Israel–Hamas Deal3 hours ago
Finnish President Alexander Stubb congratulated President Donald Trump on brokering the peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
“I want to congratulate you for what we have seen in the past 24 hours in Gaza. I think it’s a historic deal,” said Stubb, sitting next to Trump in the Oval Office.
Stubb said he reviewed Trump’s 20-point plan to end the two-year war and praised the proposal.
“You really see all the key elements,” he said.
“And if someone would have said a few weeks back that you and your team are able to push us to a position where there will be a cease-fire, an exchange of prisoners, hostages, and then a pullback, I would not have believed it,” Stubb continued.
“But it’s this is what diplomacy is at its best, and I think that’s a potential huge deal. So congratulations.”
The first phase of the deal consists of releasing the remaining hostages, living and dead, in exchange for Israel gradually withdrawing from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas Declares End to War With Israel
Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’s exiled chief, declared an end to the war between Israel and Hamas.
“We declare an end to the war today and [the] start of a permanent cease-fire,” he said in a televised speech.
Al-Hayya added that the agreement includes opening the Rafah border crossing to and from Egypt, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and guarantees from the United States, Turkey, and Arab countries that the war in Gaza is permanently over.
Trump Invited to Address Knesset
President Donald Trump said Israel has invited him to address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
“I will do it if they want me to,” Trump said.
Trump said he plans on traveling to the Middle East next week to oversee the implementation of the deal between Israel and Hamas.
Israel–Hamas Peace Deal ‘Historic Moment’ for US: Rubio
Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the peace deal between Israel and Hamas would not have happened if not for the work of President Donald Trump.
“I think it will go down as a historic moment in the history of our country, and something our country should be very proud of that,” Rubio said.
Rubio recapped the events leading up to the deal, saying it began with Trump’s trip to the Middle East in May, forging relationships with the nations in the region, and Trump’s “historic meeting” at the United Nations with not only Arab countries, but also Muslim-majority nations including Indonesia and Pakistan.
Rubio also emphasized that the road to peace was “a human story” and celebrated the fact that 20 living hostages will finally come home after more than two years.
“There’s a geopolitical aspect to it, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.
“It creates the conditions for Gaza to one day be a normal place again, and people to have a better life, and Israelis to be safe. But yesterday was a human story,” Rubio said.
“Because of the work you put in, and honestly, not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President, but frankly, I don’t know of any American president in the modern era that could have made this possible because of the actions you have taken unrelated to this.”
By T.J. Muscaro
Celebrations Sweep Israel and Gaza as First Phase of Trump’s Peace Plan Secured
Family members of hostages being held in Gaza had high praise for President Donald Trump following the news that Israel and Hamas would sign a cease-fire agreement and all hostages would be returned.
A group of families was with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Oct. 8, and spoke with Trump by phone, making comments such as “Thank you,” “You did it,” and “This is amazing.”
One of the family members gathered around Lutnick’s phone said, “Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you’ve done so much for us…. We trust you fulfilled the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages, are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers.”
Families of Israeli Hostages Praise Trump for Cease-fire Deal
Family members of hostages being held in Gaza had high praise for President Donald Trump following the news that Israel and Hamas would sign a cease-fire agreement and all hostages would be returned.
A group of families was with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Oct. 8, and spoke with Trump by phone, making comments such as “Thank you,” “You did it,” and “This is amazing.”
One of the family members gathered around Lutnick’s phone said, “Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you’ve done so much for us…. We trust you fulfilled the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages, are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers.”
Hamas Says Israel to Release 2,000 Prisoners
Approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released by Israel as part of the U.S.-mediated deal to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages, according to Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official.
That total includes 250 prisoners serving long sentences, and 1,700 who were taken prisoner during the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
“We have put the names of all the commanders that we want released,” Hamdan said.
“The Israelis should withdraw from all heavily populated areas, especially Gaza City, Khan Younis, Rafah, and north Gaza,” he added.
However, one prisoner Israel said it would not release is Marwan Barghouti. Arrested in 2002, he is serving five life sentences for deadly attacks carried out during the 2000 intifada.
Barghouti is considered a popular Palestinian political figure and is seen by many to be a possible successor to the Palestinian Authority’s recognized president, Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti was a leader of Hamas’s rival group, Fatah.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Chief of the General Staff issued instructions for forces to prepare for the return of the hostages. Preparations to transition to the new deployment lines are already underway. However, all forces are told to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario.
By T.J. Muscaro
Hamas Does Not Accept Trump–Blair ‘Board of Peace,’ Official Says
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan rejected a proposed transitional authority in Gaza led by President Donald Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“All factions, including the Palestinian Authority, does not accept that. No one accepts the return to mandate and colonialism,” he told pan-Arab Al-Araby TV on Thursday.
When asked about Hamas having no role in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, Hamdan said the enclave would be led by “independent Palestinian personalities.”
Regarding the resumed flow of humanitarian aid, Hamdan expects roughly 400 to 600 trucks with food, medical equipment, and fuel to enter Gaza daily after the deal is cemented.
The Palestinian delegation insisted during negotiations that the United Nations and other international groups be among those who distribute the aid, Hamdan said.
“These organizations have a good reputation of dealing with people, and they don’t have to bring mercenaries and retired soldiers to open fire at the Palestinian people,” he added.
By Jacob Burg
Erdogan Says Turkey Will Help Implement Cease-fire Plan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is “greatly pleased” that the negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resulted in a cease-fire in Gaza.
“I extend my special thanks to U.S. President Mr. Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire, as well as to our brotherly countries Qatar and Egypt, which provided significant support in reaching the agreement,” Erdogan wrote on X, in an English translation from Turkish.
“As Türkiye, we will closely monitor the meticulous implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process,” Erdogan said.
“We will continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, independent, sovereign, and possessing territorial integrity.”
By Jacob Burg
US Political Leaders Welcome Agreement
U.S. political leaders expressed optimism about a lasting peace in Gaza after President Donald Trump announced both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a deal to end the two-year war in Gaza.
In a post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the agreement a “truly historic achievement.”
“Through strength and conviction, [Trump has] accomplished what others have only talked about: bringing hostages home, security for Israel, and laying the groundwork for lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) said he was “beyond thankful and grateful that it appears the hostages will be released,” and that a cease-fire will take effect. He added that Hamas must completely disarm and be “written out of the future of any Palestinian government.”
Graham ended his comments, saying, “Well done, Mr. President.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that if the agreement goes into effect, it will bring a “huge sigh of relief to the hostage families, to all of Israel, and to Palestinians who have suffered for so long in this horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”
He noted his commitment to ensuring that all hostages are returned home, and said, “The work is not over, but any step to end this nightmare is one that should be celebrated and carefully implemented and followed through on.”
Iran in Favor of Israel–Hamas Deal: Trump
President Donald Trump said that Iran is in favor of the agreement between Israel and Hamas that includes the release of hostages and an end to hostilities in Gaza. The deal, reached in Egypt by the two parties, also includes Israel’s gradual withdrawal from Gaza.
“Iran’s different, but Iran wants to work on peace. Now they’ve informed us, and they’ve acknowledged that they’re totally in favor of this deal. They think it’s a great thing, so we appreciate that, and we’ll work with Iran,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.
“As you know, we have major sanctions on Iran and lots of other things. We would like to see them be able to rebuild their country too, but they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
The deal also includes the release of some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Hostages Will Be Back Monday or Tuesday: Trump
President Donald Trump said that he plans to make a trip to the Middle East next week and that the hostages held by Hamas will be freed by Monday or Tuesday.
“As you know, last night, we reached a momentous breakthrough in the Middle East,” Trump said during an Oct. 9 Cabinet meeting.
He said the conflict between Israel and Gaza was over, and that his administration “created peace.”
“And I think it’s going to be a lasting peace. We secured the release of all of the remaining hostages, and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday… and that’ll be a day of joy.”
Trump added that he planned to visit Egypt for the official signing of the peace agreement.
Israel and Hamas Sign Cease-fire Agreement
Israeli and Hamas officials signed an agreement on Oct. 9 to kick off the first phase of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza.
Officials confirmed the deal was signed after indirect talks at the Sharm el-Sheikh beach resort in Egypt, triggering a cease-fire and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel Defense Forces will also partially withdraw from their current advanced positions in Gaza, and fleets of trucks carrying food and medical aid will be allowed into the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would convene his government to approve the agreement.
By T.J. Muscaro
Families of Israeli Hostages Praise Trump for Cease-fire Deal
Family members of hostages being held in Gaza had high praise for President Donald Trump following the news that Israel and Hamas would sign a cease-fire agreement and all hostages would be returned.
A group of families was with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Oct. 8, and spoke with Trump by phone, making comments such as “Thank you,” “You did it,” and “This is amazing.”
One of the family members gathered around Lutnick’s phone said, “Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you’ve done so much for us…. We trust you fulfilled the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages, are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers.”
Another added, “God bless you, Mr. President. God bless America.”
Hamas Says Israel to Release 2,000 Prisoners
Approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released by Israel as part of the U.S.-mediated deal to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages, according to Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official.
That total includes 250 prisoners serving long sentences, and 1,700 who were taken prisoner during the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023.
“We have put the names of all the commanders that we want released,” Hamdan said.
“The Israelis should withdraw from all heavily populated areas, especially Gaza City, Khan Younis, Rafah, and north Gaza,” he added.
However, one prisoner Israel said it would not release is Marwan Barghouti. Arrested in 2002, he is serving five life sentences for deadly attacks carried out during the 2000 intifada.
Barghouti is considered a popular Palestinian political figure and is seen by many to be a possible successor to the Palestinian Authority’s recognized president, Mahmoud Abbas. Barghouti was a leader of Hamas’s rival group, Fatah.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Chief of the General Staff issued instructions for forces to prepare for the return of the hostages. Preparations to transition to the new deployment lines are already underway. However, all forces are told to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario.
By T.J. Muscaro
Hamas Does Not Accept Trump–Blair ‘Board of Peace,’ Official Says
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan rejected a proposed transitional authority in Gaza led by President Donald Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“All factions, including the Palestinian Authority, does not accept that. No one accepts the return to mandate and colonialism,” he told pan-Arab Al-Araby TV on Thursday.
When asked about Hamas having no role in the future governance of the Gaza Strip, Hamdan said the enclave would be led by “independent Palestinian personalities.”
Regarding the resumed flow of humanitarian aid, Hamdan expects roughly 400 to 600 trucks with food, medical equipment, and fuel to enter Gaza daily after the deal is cemented.
The Palestinian delegation insisted during negotiations that the United Nations and other international groups be among those who distribute the aid, Hamdan said.
“These organizations have a good reputation of dealing with people, and they don’t have to bring mercenaries and retired soldiers to open fire at the Palestinian people,” he added.
By Jacob Burg
Erdogan Says Turkey Will Help Implement Cease-fire Plan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he is “greatly pleased” that the negotiations between Israel and Hamas have resulted in a cease-fire in Gaza.
“I extend my special thanks to U.S. President Mr. Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire, as well as to our brotherly countries Qatar and Egypt, which provided significant support in reaching the agreement,” Erdogan wrote on X, in an English translation from Turkish.
“As Türkiye, we will closely monitor the meticulous implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process,” Erdogan said.
“We will continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, independent, sovereign, and possessing territorial integrity.”
By Jacob Burg
US Political Leaders Welcome Agreement
U.S. political leaders expressed optimism about a lasting peace in Gaza after President Donald Trump announced both Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a deal to end the two-year war in Gaza.
In a post on X, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the agreement a “truly historic achievement.”
“Through strength and conviction, [Trump has] accomplished what others have only talked about: bringing hostages home, security for Israel, and laying the groundwork for lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) said he was “beyond thankful and grateful that it appears the hostages will be released,” and that a cease-fire will take effect. He added that Hamas must completely disarm and be “written out of the future of any Palestinian government.”
Graham ended his comments, saying, “Well done, Mr. President.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that if the agreement goes into effect, it will bring a “huge sigh of relief to the hostage families, to all of Israel, and to Palestinians who have suffered for so long in this horrific humanitarian catastrophe.”
He noted his commitment to ensuring that all hostages are returned home, and said, “The work is not over, but any step to end this nightmare is one that should be celebrated and carefully implemented and followed through on.”
First Phase of Gaza Deal Agreed—What to Know
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 8 that Israel and the terrorist group Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause fighting and release some hostages and prisoners.
The announcement comes two years after the Oct. 7 attack, in which Hamas-led terrorists killed about 1,200 people and seized 251 hostages in southern Israel, triggering Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Here is what to know about the progress of Trump’s Gaza peace plan
What Is Agreed
After three days of indirect talks between Israeli and Hamas officials in Egypt, Trump said that both sides have signed off on the first phase of the 20-point peace plan.
“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,” Trump said.
Israel says that Hamas is still holding 48 hostages in the enclave.
Hamas said the agreement includes an Israeli pullback from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange.
What Comes Next
The Israeli government is set to meet on Thursday to approve the agreement. Netanyahu’s office said that a ceasefire will not come into effect until the deal is ratified by the Israeli lawmakers.
According to the deal, if both sides agree to this proposal, Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed-upon line to prepare for a hostage release.
During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.
Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned. During a Wednesday evening interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump said he expects the hostages to be released sometime on Monday.
The agreement will end the war and allow aid into Gaza, with full details to be announced later, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said on Wednesday.
Trump’s plan says that once the agreement is accepted, aid would enter Gaza immediately at levels set in the Jan. 19, 2025, deal, including infrastructure and hospital repairs and rubble clearance.
Distribution would be overseen by the U.N., Red Crescent, and other bodies, with the Rafah crossing operating under the same earlier mechanism.
What Remains Unknown
The announcements cover only part of the 20-point peace plan. Key details, including how Hamas’s disarmament will be carried out, remain unclear.
The plan envisions Gaza first being run by a neutral Palestinian committee providing basic services, before eventually being handed to the Palestinian Authority (PA), alongside a new development program for reconstruction. Hamas and other groups are to have no role in governance.
Trump said that a “council of peace” would be formed to oversee the postwar transition and reconstruction.
“People are going to be taken care of. It’s going to be a different world,” Trump told Hannity. “I think, really, the Middle East came together.”
Reactions to Gaza’s future leadership are divided.
Netanyahu has rejected any PA role without “fundamental, genuine, and enduring transformation.” Mardawi said Israel will “fail to impose their agendas and schemes on our land and holy sites.”
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan said on Thursday that Gaza’s administration must be composed of “Palestinian national figures without Israeli interference.” He added that Palestinian factions have submitted a proposal of 40 names to assume responsibility for administering the Gaza Strip.
World Leaders React
In a post on Truth Social, Trump hailed the agreement.
“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, and 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!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the development as “a diplomatic success” and “a great day for Israel.”
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel,” he said in a post on X.
“This agreement represents a purely national achievement that fulfils the fundamental demands of our people: stopping the aggression, return of the displaced, withdrawal of the occupation, a prisoner exchange deal, and the launch of relief and reconstruction efforts,” Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi said, according to a Telegram post by Al-Aqsa TV, a Hamas-affiliated media outlet.
Leaders of France, the UK, Canada, and Italy welcomed news of a deal on Thursday.
UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said it was a “moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world.” He called for the immediate implementation of the agreement in full.
French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Trump and the mediators. He said he would raise a two-state solution at a Paris meeting on Thursday with senior diplomats from Europe, Arab countries, and other partners to discuss Gaza’s post-war transition.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing relatives of most Israeli hostages, thanked Trump for his efforts in a phone call and invited him to meet with them during his next visit to Israel.
Netanyahu said on Thursday that he spoke with Trump, thanking him for “all his efforts and for his global leadership” and inviting him to address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
Celebrations spread across Gaza as Palestinians welcomed the approval of the first phase of the peace plan.
World Leaders Welcome First Phase of Trump’s Gaza Deal
Leaders around the world have welcomed the news that a deal has been reached between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group for the release of the Israeli hostages taken two years ago.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the deal on Wednesday, adding that hostages are likely to be released in the coming days and that Hamas will cede control of the Gaza Strip.
In exchange, Israel will pull its military forces back to an agreed-upon line.
By Guy Birchall
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Peace Plan
WASHINGTON—Israel and terrorist group Hamas have reached a deal for the release of hostages, marking a breakthrough toward ending the two-year war in Gaza.
After announcing that both sides had agreed to the deal, President Donald Trump said that hostages still being held by Hamas are likely to be released in the coming days.
In exchange, Israel will withdraw its troops to an “agreed upon line.”
By Emel Akan, Jacob Burg, Joseph Lord and Evgenia Filimianova
