United States President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of his proposed peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing war in Gaza.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said:
“This means that all the hostages will be released very soon.”
He added that Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed-upon line as part of the initial steps toward what he described as a “strong and lasting peace.” Trump further claimed that “all parties will be treated fairly.”
Meanwhile, Majed Al-Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that mediators have reached an agreement on the implementation terms of the first stage of the Gaza ceasefire.
According to Al-Ansari, the agreement will lead to a full cessation of hostilities, the release of both Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip. He noted that further details will be announced soon.
Israel’s Channel 12 cited Israeli officials saying that the ceasefire agreement on Gaza would be signed on Thursday. The same officials indicated that the first prisoner exchanges are expected to take place on Saturday or Sunday.
Earlier, CNN reported that a memorandum handed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to President Trump during a roundtable meeting suggested that an agreement on Gaza was “very close.”
Additionally, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) revealed that Washington is preparing the text of a speech expected to be delivered by President Trump to formally announce the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Analysis and Context
The announcement marks the first concrete sign of progress in months of indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
If implemented, the agreement could represent a major turning point in the Gaza war, which has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead or displaced and devastated much of the enclave’s infrastructure.
Observers note that the inclusion of prisoner and hostage exchanges signals an attempt to balance political optics for both sides — but questions remain over Israel’s compliance and whether the truce will pave the way for a lasting end to the occupation and blockade.
For Palestinians, the prospect of halting the bombardment and opening humanitarian corridors brings a glimmer of relief, even as scepticism persists regarding Israel’s commitment to any long-term peace.
