Israel and Hamas Reach Sudden Agreement on First Phase of Gaza Ceasefire: "Hostages to Be Released Within 72 Hours"

Trump: "A Very Great Day for Arabs, the United States, and Others"
Israel and Hamas Also Welcome the Agreement

After two years of war in the Gaza Strip, Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached a sudden agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire deal on October 8 (local time). As a result, the process for releasing 20 surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas is expected to begin soon, and Israeli forces are also expected to start a phased withdrawal.

On the 4th (local time), in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, citizens participating in a rally calling for the release of hostages on the second anniversary of the war hold up signs.

On the same day, President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social, "I am proud to announce that both Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of our peace plan." He added, "This marks the first step toward a strong, lasting, and permanent peace, meaning that all hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops to the agreed lines."

The "agreed lines" likely refer to the "first phase withdrawal line" for Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip, which President Trump revealed on Truth Social on the 4th. At that time, President Trump stated, "After negotiations, Israel agreed to the first phase withdrawal line that we proposed and shared with Hamas."

Initial withdrawal line of Israeli troops in Gaza Strip shared by President Trump on the 4th. Screenshot from President Trump's social media Truth Social.

Announcing the agreement between both sides, President Trump emphasized, "All parties will be treated fairly." He continued, "Today is a very great day for Arab and Islamic nations, Israel, all neighboring countries, and the United States," and expressed gratitude to the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their cooperation in making this historic and unprecedented event possible. He concluded by saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers!"

Both Israel and Hamas, the parties involved, confirmed the first phase agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately welcomed the news, calling it "a great day for Israel." The Prime Minister's Office described it as a "historic achievement."

Prime Minister Netanyahu, speaking immediately after a phone call with President Trump, said, "I thank President Trump for his leadership, cooperation, and unwavering commitment to Israel's security and the freedom of our hostages," emphasizing, "This is a diplomatic success for the State of Israel and a national and moral victory." He added, "With God's help, we will bring back all the hostages held by Hamas," and expressed his sincere gratitude to President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing the hostages.

According to major foreign media outlets such as AFP, Hamas also issued a statement on the same day, saying, "We have reached agreements on ending the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, allowing humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange." Hamas stated that within 72 hours of implementing the agreement, there would be an exchange of Israeli hostages and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Hamas urged President Trump to guarantee Israel's full implementation of the ceasefire, emphasizing, "Delaying or evading the agreed terms must not be allowed."

International media outlets, including CNN, reported that the surviving hostages are likely to be released on the 11th or 12th. Regarding this, President Trump mentioned in an interview with Fox News that the hostages in Gaza would probably be released on the 13th.

Majid Al Ansari, spokesperson for Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has been mediating the negotiations, also announced via X (formerly Twitter) that "the mediators announce tonight that an agreement has been reached on all provisions and implementation procedures of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal," confirming the conclusion of the negotiations, according to AFP. He added, "This will lead to the end of the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of humanitarian aid," noting that further details would be announced later.

Previously, on September 29, President Trump unveiled the "Gaza Peace Initiative," which included the release of hostages and detainees from both sides, the disarmament of Hamas, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the postwar governance structure for the Gaza Strip, in an effort to end the two-year Gaza war that began on October 7, 2023.

With Israel immediately agreeing to this peace initiative, President Trump strongly pressured Hamas, warning that "if you miss this last chance to reach an agreement, you will face a hell that no one has ever seen before." Against this backdrop, Israel and Hamas have been conducting negotiations for the release of hostages and a ceasefire since the 6th in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, under the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and others.