Trump says Israel, Hamas agree to first phase of peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media platform Truth Social on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of his peace plan.

"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," Trump wrote.

Hamas said in a statement on Thursday that it had reached an agreement to end the conflict in Gaza, saying the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave, a hostage-prisoner exchange and entry of aid into Gaza.

While appreciating the efforts of mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye and also the efforts of Trump, Hamas called on Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement and various Arab, Islamic and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement the agreement's requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon, according to the statement.

Referring to the hostages held by Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a written statement: "With God's help we will bring them all home." He said he would convene his government on Thursday to approve the agreement.

Qatar's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that an agreement has been reached over the first phase of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas.

"The mediators announce that tonight an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid. The details will be announced later."

Trump said earlier that a deal was almost done and that he may travel to Egypt this weekend, possibly leaving as soon as Saturday.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the Israel-Hamas agreement, calling on all parties to "abide fully" by its terms. 

"A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all," he said in a statement, stressing that the immediate unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies into the war-ravaged territory "must be ensured."

What is included in the first phase?

Hamas will release 20 hostages alive at the same time as part of the initial phase of the deal, a source within Hamas told AFP on Thursday. 

Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners: 250 among those serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the start of the war, AFP reported, citing a top official within Hamas.

The exchange is expected to occur within 72 hours of the agreement's implementation, which is anticipated to be signed on Thursday, according to AFP, citing a Hamas source. 

An Israeli government spokesperson said the hostage release was expected to begin on Saturday. The White House says it expects the release of Israeli hostages to begin on Monday. 

A daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid will enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire, to be increased in the following days, AFP reported, citing the Hamas source. 

The first phase of the deal also provides for the "return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north immediately," as well as stipulated "scheduled withdrawals" of Israeli troops, AFP reported, citing the Hamas source. 

Difficulties ahead

Despite the hopes for ending the conflict in Gaza, crucial details are yet to be spelled out, including the timing, a post-war administration for the Gaza Strip, and the fate of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Hamas has so far refused to discuss Israel's demand that Hamas give up its arms, which Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupy Palestinian land, Reuters reported, citing a Hamas source.

Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed that sticking points included the mechanism for the Israeli withdrawal, with Hamas seeking a clear timeline linked to the release of hostages and guarantees of a complete pullout by Israeli forces.

The next phase of Trump's plan calls for an international body, led by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to play a role in Gaza's post-war administration. 

Whether good governance of Gaza can be achieved after the conflict is also a big question mark, said Qin Tian, deputy director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Noting that Israel is expected to maintain a repressive and interventionist stance towards Gaza and continue to uphold its strong posture, Qin said the prospects for the Gaza Strip are still worrying.

Wang Jin, director of the Center for International Strategic Studies at Northwest University in China, also cautioned that the future remains uncertain, with significant challenges ahead, including the formation of a new government in Gaza, the rebuilding of its war-torn economy and the role of Hamas in the region.

Gazan authorities say more than 67,000 people have been killed and much of the enclave has been flattened since Israel began its military response to the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials, with 20 of the 48 hostages still held believed to be alive.

(With input from agencies)