President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a “first phase” of his Gaza peace plan.
What the “first phase” includes:
- A temporary ceasefire / pause in fighting to allow negotiations and exchanges.
- The release of hostages / prisoners — Trump says “ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon.”
- Israel will withdraw its troops to an “agreed upon line” as part of the de-escalation steps.
The agreement was reportedly confirmed by Israel, Hamas, and Qatar, and was negotiated with U.S. involvement.
The Hill continues:
President Trump announced Wednesday a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Hamas, paving the way for the release of 20 living hostages and relief for nearly 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Trump said the two sides signed off on “the first Phase” of a peace plan he announced late last month, a major reprieve to halt more than two years of war since Hamas brutally attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
The president touted the first phase “as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!” in a post on his social media site Truth Social.
“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!”
Minutes later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement of resolve. “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” he said, speaking of the hostages still in captivity. At the same time, officials noted that Hamas continued to hold the bodies of twenty-eight others who had already been killed.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
READ NEXT: Explosive Interview Wrecks Dem Star On Live TV [WATCH]
