Donald Trump announced a significant diplomatic milestone as Israel and Hamas signed off on the initial phase of his proposed peace plan, aimed at halting the devastating conflict in Gaza and securing the release of hostages.
The agreement includes the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces to pre-agreed positions. Trump said “ALL of the Hostages” would be freed “very soon” as part of what he described as “first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
The announcement came on the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages. Israel’s military response has since killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and left large parts of the territory in ruins.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the development, stating, “The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. The stakes have never been higher.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is “considering going to the Middle East” after visiting troops at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday. Despite the agreement, Israeli military operations in Gaza have continued. Far-right Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has publicly opposed the deal, pushing instead for a total defeat of Hamas, revealing the political strain within Netanyahu’s coalition.