Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) in announcing the outlines of the biggest breakthrough in months in the two-year-old war.
“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,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media.
Divided Israel marks two years since Oct 7 attack as Gaza war grinds on, hostages languish
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Earlier on Wednesday (October 8), Mr. Trump said that he might travel this weekend to Egypt, where his envoys were in talks to try to seal the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement.
“All Parties will be treated fairly!" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God's help we will bring them all home.”
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Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Trump spoke about the ‘historic achievement’ of reaching the deal, Israeli leader’s office said.
Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene the government on Thursday (October 9) to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement aimed at bringing home all the Israeli hostages.
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Palestinians follow the news on a television after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to pause fighting, as they sit in a tent outside Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. | Photo Credit: AP
“A great day for Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu added in a statement following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that a deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas to end the two-year war in Gaza.
The Israeli military said that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir instructed forces to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario and to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages’ return with sensitivity and professionalism, following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Hams on hostage release and withdrawal of Israeli troops
Hamas said separately that the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as allow for the entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas called on Mr. Trump and guarantor states to ensure Israel fully implements the ceasefire, it added in a statement.
Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.
“We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and throughout our homeland and the diaspora, who have demonstrated unparalleled honor, courage, and heroism — confronting the fascist occupation projects that targeted them and their national rights. These sacrifices and steadfast positions have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s schemes of subjugation and displacement.
“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved,” Hamas said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear whether the parties had made any progress on thornier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarise, as Mr. Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory. But the agreement nonetheless marked the most momentous development since a deal in January and February that involved the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. |
