Jerusalem, 9 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Two years and a day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre ignited war in Gaza, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a plan to end the conflict and secure the release of all remaining hostages, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday morning.
Trump revealed the development in a late-night post on his Truth Social platform, calling it “the first phase of a strong, durable and everlasting peace.” He wrote, “This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw [its] troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward peace.”
The American president hailed the agreement as “a great day for the world,” saying that “the whole world has come together on this one. Israel, every country has come together. This has been a fantastic day… a wonderful day for everybody.”
Within seconds of Trump’s announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement in Jerusalem declaring, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” In a subsequent message, he added, “A great day for Israel. I will convene the cabinet tomorrow to ratify the agreement and bring all our precious hostages home.” Netanyahu thanked Israel’s soldiers, “whose courage and sacrifice have brought us to this day,” and expressed gratitude to Trump and his aides “for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages.”
According to Netanyahu’s office, the prime minister and Trump held an “emotional and warm” phone call about two hours after the announcement. Netanyahu invited Trump to address the Knesset, and the American leader reportedly accepted, saying he intends to visit the region this weekend.
In his own post, Trump stressed that “all parties will be treated fairly,” a remark widely seen as a reassurance to Hamas, which has sought guarantees that Israel will not resume the war once the hostages are freed. He also praised the role of international mediators. “This is a GREAT day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations, and the United States of America,” Trump wrote. “We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event happen.”
Netanyahu said in a separate statement that approval of the plan marks a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.” He added, “From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved. Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point. God bless Israel. God bless America. God bless our great alliance.”
“With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors,” Netanyahu concluded.
Hamas confirmed the deal in its own statement, saying it had agreed to terms that “end the war, withdraw Israeli troops, secure the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and ensure the release of Palestinian prisoners.” The Iran-backed terror group said nearly 2,000 prisoners will be released as part of the exchange, including 250 serving life sentences. Hamas also thanked Trump and the mediators “who have worked to bring about a complete and final cessation of the war and the full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.”
The initial phase of the agreement reportedly calls for a partial Israeli withdrawal, leaving its forces in control of just over half of Gaza. Hamas has sought to secure a clear timetable for the full pullout after earlier drafts described it as dependent on progress in implementing the deal. Details of the final arrangement have not yet been made public.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari confirmed that mediators had reached an understanding “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.” He added that “the details will be announced later.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum welcomed the deal, calling it “an important and significant step toward bringing everyone home,” while stressing that “our struggle is not over and will not end until the last hostage returns.”
The forum urged the government to convene immediately to approve the agreement, warning that “any delay could come at a heavy cost to the hostages and soldiers.” It also expressed “deep gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump and his team for their leadership and determination that led to this historic breakthrough — ending the war and securing a comprehensive agreement for the return of all hostages.”
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, tweeted, “Matan is coming home — to me, to Natali and Shani, to Ilana, the love of his life, to all of you, to our country. These are the tears I prayed for.”
Former hostage Emily Damari said in an emotional Instagram video, “How do you even explain what this moment feels like? Yes!!! I’m shaking, my whole body is shaking. Wow!”
All the hostages, living and dead, are expected to return to Israel within 72 hours. Afterwards, Israel will begin freeing Palestinian prisoners. Under the proposed arrangement, 250 of the remaining 303 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons will be released, along with 1,700 detainees captured in Gaza since the war began, including all women and children. For each slain hostage returned by Hamas, Israel will release the remains of 15 Gazans it holds.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog reacted to the development by posting a biblical reflection on social media. “At this moment, the heart of Israel beats as one with the hostages and their families,” he wrote. “As the prophet Jeremiah said: ‘They shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their borders.’”
Approximately 1,200 people were killed and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 48 remaining hostages, about 20 are believed to be alive.
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