Trump: "All Israeli Hostages to Be Released on the 13th or 14th"
Hints at Hamas Disarmament in the Second Phase of the Gaza Peace Initiative
Reveals Ambition for Nobel Peace Prize Ahead of the Announcement on the 10th
Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas have reached a dramatic agreement on the first phase of the "Gaza Peace Initiative," which includes troop withdrawal and the release of hostages. This agreement is the result of mediation efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the Gaza war, and after more than two years of conflict, a breakthrough has finally been achieved. President Trump, expressing his ambition for the Nobel Peace Prize one day before the announcement of the recipient, stated, "The whole world is applauding."
Trump: "Agreement on Hostage Release and Troop Withdrawal... All Israeli Hostages to Be Freed on the 13th or 14th"
At a Cabinet meeting at the White House, President Trump said, "Last night, we achieved a significant breakthrough in the Middle East," adding, "We accomplished what many said was impossible. We have ended the war in Gaza and achieved peace on a larger scale." He continued, "I hope this peace lasts forever," and announced, "All remaining hostages will be released on Monday (the 13th) or Tuesday (the 14th)."
Previously, on the 8th, President Trump had announced on his social networking service, Truth Social, that "Israel and Hamas have both agreed to the first phase of the peace plan," publicly revealing the ceasefire agreement. Both Israel and Hamas confirmed this.
Within a day, President Trump personally announced the release schedule for 20 hostages, emphasizing that the agreement would be implemented. He said, "That day will be a day of joy," and added, "I plan to visit in person." This signaled his intention to travel directly to Egypt, where ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are taking place, to intervene in the implementation of the agreement and the process of releasing hostages.
The previous day, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the Gaza Peace Initiative led by President Trump. After announcing the 20-point Gaza Peace Initiative on the 29th of last month, he had urged both sides to reach a swift agreement. He also exerted strong pressure on Hamas, warning that refusal could lead to its destruction. According to the agreement, both sides will immediately cease hostilities, Israel will begin a phased withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and Hamas will release all hostages it is holding. Additionally, Israel has agreed to release approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Regarding the content of the second phase of the agreement, President Trump stated, "We will pursue disarmament, and many things will happen going forward," presenting the disarmament of Hamas as the key objective of the next stage.
When asked about his stance on the "two-state solution" for the coexistence of Israel and Palestine, he answered, "We will follow whatever they agree upon," indicating no particular position.
However, since the details of the negotiations have not been made public, there are still significant obstacles before this agreement can lead to a complete end to the war. In particular, the provisions in President Trump's plan for the disarmament of Hamas and the exclusion of Hamas from governing Gaza are conditions that Hamas has consistently rejected, raising concerns that these issues could become stumbling blocks in future negotiations.
Trump: "Ended Eight Wars in Nine Months"... Openly Expresses Ambition for Nobel Peace Prize
In addition, President Trump actively highlighted this agreement as a diplomatic achievement.
He said, "Every American should be proud of our country’s role in ending this terrible war," adding, "We have ended seven wars so far, and this is the eighth." He continued, "I will soon head to the Middle East, and I am honored to be involved in this work," and "People are very happy about this. I have never seen the world give such praise."
These remarks are interpreted as emphasizing his achievements in anticipation of the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced on the 10th. President Trump has repeatedly expressed a strong desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Many analysts believe that the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the Gaza Peace Initiative just two days before the Nobel Peace Prize announcement reflects President Trump's strong ambition to win the award.
After a summit with Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the White House, President Trump was asked by reporters about his prospects for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He replied, "No one in history has ended eight wars in nine months," and insisted, "I have stopped eight wars."
President Trump has claimed to have ended seven conflicts, including those between Israel and Iran, and Pakistan and India, and has counted the Gaza Peace Initiative agreement as his eighth achievement.
He also criticized former U.S. President Barack Obama, a past Nobel Peace Prize laureate, saying, "He was given the award even though he did nothing but ruin our country," and "Former President Obama received the award immediately after being elected." Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2009 for his efforts in nuclear non-proliferation and promoting peace after taking office in January of that year.
Some observers note that even if President Trump's determination to win the Nobel Peace Prize and his political calculations played a role, his contribution to this ceasefire agreement cannot be denied.
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