Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire and Hostage Deal
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage exchange, marking the first stage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace framework aimed at ending the devastating Gaza conflict that has claimed more than 67,000 lives and reshaped the Middle East.
The breakthrough came after indirect negotiations in Egypt, just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas cross-border assault that ignited Israel’s prolonged military campaign. The accord, part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, is being hailed as the closest step yet to halting the war that has drawn in regional powers including Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, while leaving Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage.
Trump Announces ‘First Phase’ of Peace Plan
Trump confirmed the deal on Wednesday night, calling it a milestone.
«I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan,» he said on Truth Social. «This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.»
The agreement, though hailed as historic, remains short on detail and leaves unresolved questions about its implementation, particularly regarding Gaza’s post-war governance and Hamas’s future role.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his cabinet to approve the accord, calling it «a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.» Hamas, for its part, confirmed that the deal includes both an Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange, declaring that its people’s sacrifices «will not be in vain.»
Relief and Uncertainty in Gaza and Israel
The announcement sparked scenes of celebration in both Gaza and Israel. Families of Israeli hostages gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, expressing gratitude to Trump.
Hamas sources said living hostages would be released within 72 hours of Israel’s approval, while the recovery of deceased captives could take longer due to the extent of destruction in Gaza.
Despite the ceasefire, the Israeli army warned residents that some areas remain unsafe, with forces still encircling Gaza City.
Regional and Global Reactions
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres urged all sides to adhere strictly to the deal and to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
«The suffering must end,» he said.
Arab states supporting Trump’s plan stressed that the ceasefire must eventually lead to the creation of a Palestinian state — an outcome Netanyahu continues to oppose. Under the next stage of the U.S. plan, an international body led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to oversee Gaza’s post-war reconstruction and administration.
The question of Gaza’s governance remains unresolved. Hamas insists that control should be handed to a Palestinian technocratic government under the Palestinian Authority, backed by Arab and Muslim nations. It rejects any foreign-led administration.
As the world reacts to the ceasefire, divisions persist over the characterisation of Israel’s military campaign. Rights groups and U.N. investigators have described it as genocidal, while Israel maintains that its actions are an act of self-defence following Hamas’s 2023 attack.
Kursiv also reports that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Athens on October 6 to cheers from pro-Palestinian supporters after being deported by Israel, along with hundreds of other activists detained at sea for trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
