Israel, Hamas to free hostages, prisoners after agreeing to first phase of Trump's peace plan

Israel and Hamas agreed to pause fighting in Gaza to free the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, accepting elements of a plan put forward by the Trump administration that Palestinians greeted warily Thursday as a possible breakthrough toward ending the devastating two-year-old war. “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,” President Donald Trump wrote on social media late Wednesday. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”

Alaa Abd Rabbo, originally from northern Gaza but forced by the fighting to move multiple times, called the deal “a godsend”. “We are tired, we have been displaced and this is the day we have been waiting for,” he said from the central city of Deir al-Balah. “We want to go home.” In Tel Aviv, families of the remaining hostages popped Champagne and cried tears of joy when the deal was announced. Under the terms, Hamas intends to release all 20 living hostages in a matter of days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss details of an agreement that has not fully been made public. Uncertainty remains about some of the thornier aspects — such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza — but the sides appear closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and triggered other armed conflicts across the Middle East.

The war, which began with Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, has sparked worldwide protests and brought allegations of genocide that Israel denies. Talks to hammer out a deal have been underway in Egypt since the start of the week, and the breakthrough emerged at the end of the third day of negotiations. “With God's help we will bring them all home,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed on social media shortly after Trump's announcement. Netanyahu said he would convene the government on Thursday to approve the deal. Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements “without disavowal or delay” the withdrawal of troops, the entry of aid into the territory and the exchange of prisoners. Ahmed al-Farra, the general director of pediatrics at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, which has seen many of the casualties of the war, said he was still sceptical of Israel following through on the deal based on his past experiences, but held out hope. “We need to go back to living,” he said.