Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan aimed at ending the two-year Gaza conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Under the agreement, Hamas will release 20 living hostages still held in Gaza, while Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and withdraw its troops to an agreed line. In return, Israel will also allow 400 aid trucks into Gaza daily during the first five days, with gradual increases later, officials told the BBC.
If approved by Israel’s cabinet on Thursday, the ceasefire will begin immediately. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the deal as “a great day for Israel,” while Hamas confirmed it included Israeli withdrawal from parts of Gaza and appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure compliance.
The breakthrough follows three days of indirect talks in Egypt and forms the first step of Trump’s 20-point peace proposal unveiled in September. The adjusted agreement reportedly addresses both Israel’s security concerns and Hamas’s conditions for hostage releases.
High-profile Palestinian detainees, including Marwan Barghouti, are reportedly on Hamas’s release list, though Israel’s stance remains unclear.
World leaders and the UN have welcomed the deal as a “momentous opportunity” for peace, though key issues — including Hamas’s disarmament and Gaza’s future governance — remain unresolved. Trump’s plan proposes a transitional administration overseen by an international committee led by him and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Celebrations broke out in both Israel and Gaza following the announcement, as families of hostages and war-weary civilians expressed cautious hope that this could mark the beginning of lasting peace.
