In a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace framework aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages.
Speaking after receiving a handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House event, Trump revealed that both sides had signed off on the opening phase of what he described as “a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
“This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“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. Blessed are the peacemakers!”
According to White House officials, the framework reached after marathon talks involving Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and U.S. negotiators, will be implemented in stages, with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners forming the first step.
Israeli sources told the CNN that the hostages are expected to return home this weekend.
Following Trump’s announcement, the CNN reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he would convene his cabinet on Thursday to ratify the deal, calling it “a great day for Israel.”
He pledged, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
Behind the scenes, sources said the final push came after a high-level meeting in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh attended by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and intelligence chiefs from Egypt, Turkey, and Israel.
Reports of progress intensified throughout the day, culminating in Rubio slipping a note to Trump indicating that the deal was imminent.
A Qatari official later confirmed that “all provisions and implementation mechanisms” of the first phase had been agreed upon, paving the way for an end to the war, the release of detainees, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In an unusually conciliatory statement, Hamas thanked Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their mediation efforts and singled out Trump for his role in brokering the breakthrough.
“We value the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, who seeks to bring about a definitive end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation from Gaza,” Hamas said.
The group, however, urged mediators to ensure Israel “fully implements the agreement’s requirements” without delay.
While Trump celebrated what he called “the first steps toward a lasting peace,” he acknowledged that more difficult issues, including Hamas’ disarmament and the future governance of Gaza, would be addressed in later negotiations.
The deal must now undergo formal approval by Israel’s cabinet, as required by law, with a brief window for potential legal petitions before prisoner releases can proceed.
