ISRAEL AND HAMAS HAVE AGREED TO THE FIRST PHASE OF A CEASEFIRE DEAL BY TRUMP
The deal will see Israel pull back troops from parts of Gaza while Hamas releases all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal put forward by US President Donald Trump that will see Israel withdraw its troops from parts of the Gaza Strip and Hamas releasing all Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Trump made the announcement on his social media Truth Social Thursday, Oct. 9, saying that all Israeli hostages will be released “very soon” and that Israel will pull its troops back to an agreed line.
He thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey and called it the first step towards a “Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace”.
Qatar announced on X that the two sides reached an agreement on the first phase, which will lead to the ending the war, releasing the Israeli hostages and Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and aid entering Gaza, adding that more details will be announced later.
According to Trump’s 20-point plan, the war will immediately end if the two sides agree to the proposal, with all military operations being suspended.
Israeli forces will withdraw to an agreed upon line to prepare for the hostage release, and Hamas will return all Israeli hostages, both alive and dead.
In exchange, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinians it detained since Oct. 7, 2023.
For each dead Israeli hostage, Israel will release the bodies of 15 dead Palestinians.
48 Israeli hostages are still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
Hamas said in a statement that the agreement stipulated “an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation’s withdrawal from it, the entry of aid and a prisoner exchange”.
“We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, Jerusalem and the West Bank, who have demonstrated unparalleled pride, heroism and honor,” it said.
It added that it will not abandon Palestinian’s national rights to achieve freedom, independence and self-determination.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a great day for Israel” and said he will convene his government on Thursday, Oct. 9, to approve the agreement.
Israel and Hamas are expected to sign the deal by 12 pm Palestine local time on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Trump is expected to travel to Egypt in the coming days, with Hamas expected to release all Israeli hostages within 72 hours and Israel allowing aid into Gaza.
The next stage of his plan involving creating an international body called the Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, that will oversee Gaza’s administration after the war.
However some details of the peace plan, such as the full timeline of Israeli troops’ withdrawal, Gaza governance after the war and the conditions around Hamas’ disarmament are still being negotiated.
The news was met with celebration in Gaza, where Israel’s genocide has killed more than 67,183 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued their attacks on Gaza, bombing both the north and the south of Strip, and Israeli spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that Gaza city will remain a "dangerous combat zone" despite the ceasefire agreement.
Sofia Hou
Cherry Mohamed
Ikran Dahir
