SHARM EL SHEIKH: In a major step towards ending the Gaza war – which has killed thousands and unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe -- Israel and Hamas Thursday agreed to a ceasefire deal to free the remaining living hostages.
Israel’s cabinet was scheduled to meet at 1500 GMT to discuss a plan for the release of all hostages, while a deal should be signed later Thursday in Egypt, where indirect negotiations were under way. The agreement follows a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US President Donald Trump, under which Israel should withdraw from Gaza and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. Trump said he plans to leave for the Middle East sometime on Sunday (today).
The Israeli army said it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza, in line with the agreement, while the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement would only take effect with the cabinet approval. Trump’s plan also calls for disarmament of Hamas and for Gaza to be ruled by a transitional authority headed by the US president himself, though these points have yet to be addressed in any discussions.
A source within Hamas told AFP the group will exchange 20 living hostages all at the same time for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal’s first phase, with the swap to happen within 72 hours of its implementation. “The 72-hour countdown will begin only after the agreement is approved in the cabinet meeting, which is expected in the evening hours,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told journalists in Jerusalem that the final draft of the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal had been signed by all parties in Egypt. “The final draft of phase one was signed this morning in Egypt by all parties to release all the hostages. Now phase one stands very clear: all of our hostages, the living and the deceased, will be released 72 hours later, which will bring us to Monday,” she said. Bedrosian said the ceasefire will take effect “within 24 hours” from a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet scheduled for Thursday at 1400 GMT, in which the plan is expected to be approved. “The IDF will then redeploy to the yellow line as shown on maps which have been widely distributed at this point in time and now after this 24 hour period the 72 hour time window will then begin where all of our hostages will be released back into Israel,” she said. The security cabinet meeting will be followed by a full government meeting at 1500 GMT.
Bedrosian said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump held an “emotional” phone call on Thursday following the announcement of peace deal. “In a phone call earlier this morning, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his global leadership efforts to make this all possible,” she told reporters. “It was a very emotional and a warm conversation as both leaders congratulated each other on this historic achievement,” she added.
People in Gaza, much of which has been flattened by bombardment and most of whose residents have been displaced at least once over the past two years, were in a joyous mood. “Honestly, when I heard the news, I couldn’t hold back. Tears of joy flowed. Two years of bombing, terror, destruction, loss, humiliation, and the constant feeling that we could die at any moment,” displaced Palestinian Samer Joudeh told AFP.
In Israel, thousands of people gathered in a Tel Aviv square, many wearing stickers reading, “They’re coming back.” Others held photos of hostages still in Gaza and waved Israeli and US flags. “We have been waiting for this day for 734 days. We cannot imagine being anywhere else this morning,” said Laurence Ytzhak, 54, a Tel Aviv resident.
Two sources from the Egyptian aid organisation confirmed that “153 aid trucks entered through the Rafah crossing’s bypass road, en route to the Kerem Shalom crossing, to be brought into the Gaza Strip”. Among the trucks were 80 from the United Nations, 21 from Qatar and 17 from the Egyptian Red Crescent, they added.
The announcement of the peace deal prompted a wave of reactions from global leaders, many of whom welcomed the development, urging both sides to honour their commitments under the deal. US President Donald Trump said Israel and Hamas had reached a long-sought deal for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release under his plan for ending the two-year-old war in the Palestinian enclave. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social.
He further said, “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. “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, 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!” Trump said he would try to go to Egypt for the signing of a ceasefire and hostage release deal. “I’m going to try and make a trip over. We’re going to try and get over there, and we’re working on the timing, the exact timing,” Trump said at a cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the Gaza peace agreement a “historic opportunity” for lasting peace in the Middle East and praised the leadership of US President Donald Trump and mediation efforts by the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye. “The announcement of an agreement that will bring an end to the genocide in Gaza is a historic opportunity to secure lasting peace in the Middle East. President Trump’s leadership throughout the process of dialogue and negotiations reflects his unwavering commitment to world peace,” Shehbaz wrote on his X handle. He also applauded the “resolute and wise” leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their untiring efforts to negotiate a deal. “Most of all, we must all pay tribute to the Palestinian people, who have suffered in an unprecedented manner, one that should never, ever be repeated,” he remarked. He also noted with grave concern, and strongly condemned the recent provocations at Masjid Al Aqsa. “The world must hold the occupiers and illegal settlers to account and prevent any further actions that undermine the enormous efforts made by President Trump to reduce tensions and pave the way for lasting peace,” he added.
The prime minister resolved that Pakistan would continue to work with partners, friends and the leaders of brotherly nations to ensure that peace, security and dignity for the Palestinian people were established in accordance with their wishes and UN resolutions. He also condemned “recent provocations at Masjid Al Aqsa,” urging the international community to hold “occupiers and illegal settlers to account” and prevent actions that could jeopardise the progress made toward peace.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to work with “partners, friends and brotherly nations” to ensure peace, security, and dignity for the Palestinian people in line with their aspirations and relevant UN resolutions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar said Pakistan welcomed the agreement on first phase of the plan, including an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages and prisoners, and unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza. “We commend President Trump, and Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye for their efforts,” the deputy PM wrote on his official X handle. In a statement, Netanyahu termed it “A big day for Israel.”
“Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home. I thank the heroic IDF soldiers and all the security forces - thanks to their courage and sacrifice, we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours.” “Give realDonaldTrump the Nobel Peace Prize — he deserves it!” said a post on the official X account of the Office of the Prime Minister of Israel.
In a statement Hamas said, “We highly appreciate the efforts of our brothers and mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war completely and achieving a full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip. We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon. 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 honour, 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.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the ceasefire deal, saying he hoped it could lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. In a statement on social media, Abbas “welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of an agreement to cease the war on the Gaza Strip,” and “expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution... leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state”.
Secretary General Guterres in his reaction said, “I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by President Donald J Trump. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough.”
“I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured.
The fighting must stop once and for all. Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end. The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.”
China said it hoped for a “permanent and comprehensive” ceasefire in Gaza. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed satisfaction Thursday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire and thanked Donald Trump´s efforts to end the war.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the new Gaza ceasefire deal as “a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world”. Russia supports the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the settlement of the conflict in Gaza, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa both praised the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and called it an opportunity for lasting peace.
Trump ally Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy called it “extraordinary news”, while French President Emmanuel Macron said he hoped it would pave the way for a “political solution”. Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the developments were “encouraging” and he was “confident” of a solution this week. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, said the civilian population should now be supported and “the atrocities experienced... never repeated”. Ireland, which has also strongly criticised Israel’s military response, said the deal, “if grasped by all, can finally end the unconscionable human suffering”.
Exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said the group has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators, and Turkey that the war in Gaza has permanently ended. Hayya, who survived an attempt by Israel to kill him and other Hamas leaders in Qatar a month ago, said the agreement Hamas signed with Israel ends the war in Gaza, opens a key crossing with Egypt, and sees the release by Israel of all jailed Palestinian women and children.
In addition, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving long terms in Israeli prisons, as well as 1,700 others who have been arrested since the war erupted on October 7, 2023, Hayya said.