In a stunning diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ambitious 20-point peace plan for Gaza, paving the way for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and partial Israeli troop withdrawals.
The announcement, made late Wednesday by Trump on Truth Social, has ignited celebrations across Israel and cautious hope in Gaza, marking the most significant step toward ending the two-year war that has claimed over 68,000 lives.
The accord comes just one day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and saw 251 hostages taken to Gaza. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has devastated the enclave, displacing nearly 2 million Palestinians and leaving Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
“This is more than Gaza – this is peace in the Middle East,” Trump declared in a Fox News interview Thursday morning, crediting his administration’s relentless mediation and economic pressures like tariffs for forcing the breakthrough.
Israeli hostages, 20 believed alive and 28 deceased, within 72 hours of Israeli cabinet approval, expected later today.
In exchange, Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long sentences and 1,700 administrative detainees, with releases beginning Saturday if approved.
Israeli forces will withdraw to a pre-agreed line, allowing humanitarian aid to surge into Gaza and halting all hostilities. The plan, unveiled by Trump last week during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasises Hamas’s full disarmament and exclusion from future Gaza governance.
A technocratic Palestinian committee, supervised by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump and including figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, will oversee reconstruction. “Hamas stepping aside after nearly two decades is the plan’s boldest demand,” said NPR analyst Daniel Estrin.
Netanyahu called the deal a “great day for Israel” in a statement, vowing to convene his cabinet at 5pm local time for a vote. “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” he added, inviting Trump to address Israel’s Knesset.
However, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced he would oppose the vote, citing “mixed emotions” over concessions to Hamas.
How Trump’s 20-point plan differs from past efforts
Trump’s framework stands apart from previous proposals, like the Biden administration’s 2024 six-week truce, by mandating Hamas’s demilitarisation and tying aid to de-radicalisation programmes.
The plan outlines 20 principles, including an interfaith dialogue initiative and a $50 billion international reconstruction fund, with no forced Palestinian displacements. “Unlike prior deals that collapsed over governance, this one builds in US-led oversight,” said CNN global affairs analyst Brett McGurk. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey played pivotal roles, with Doha using financial incentives to sway Hamas. Qatari Prime Minister’s spokesperson Maged al Ansary confirmed the deal covers “all terms for the first phase,” including aid entry.
Reactions: Joy in Tel Aviv, hope amid exhaustion in Gaza
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, hundreds danced and prayed under portraits of the captives, with one family member telling The New York Times: “Finally, my brother’s smiling face… I am faithful I’ll hold his hand.” Israeli stocks surged to record highs on optimism for regional stability.
In Gaza, crowds near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis cheered the news, with resident Khaled Shaat describing it as “historic moments… after two years of killing and genocide.” Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi framed it as a “victory through steadfastness,” insisting the group hadn’t lost the war. Videos of celebrations flooded X, with users like @FranceRsistanc1 posting: “Les célébrations commencent à Gaza après l’annonce d’un accord.” Global leaders echoed the optimism. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged full compliance, while EU foreign chief Kaja Kallas called it a “major diplomatic accomplishment.”
Indian PM Narendra Modi welcomed the “comprehensive plan,” and even Iran’s foreign ministry expressed conditional support for halting “genocide.” On X, sentiment was jubilant yet cautious. @foxandfriends highlighted “world leaders praise a ‘landmark’ accord,” while @mehdirhasan tempered: “If this deal holds… I’ll give Trump credit. But I count 5 ‘ifs‘.”
Risks of Collapse and Path to Lasting Peace
Skeptics warn of familiar pitfalls. Five prior U.S.-backed ceasefires since 2023 have unraveled over demilitarisation disputes, according to Axios. “There’s a long, hard road ahead for Gaza,” McGurk cautioned on CNN. Smotrich’s opposition could fracture Netanyahu’s coalition, and Hamas’s full disarmament remains unverified. Yet the deal’s broader implications are profound. It could thaw Saudi-Israeli normalisation, frozen since 2023, and weaken Iran’s proxies like Hezbollah. Reconstruction, estimated at $50 billion, prioritises locals staying and rebuilding “de-radicalised” communities.
Trump, eyeing a Nobel nod, told Fox: “Hostages probably on Monday.” As the Israeli cabinet deliberates today, the world watches. If approved, this fragile accord could transform the Middle East – or join the graveyard of failed peaces. For families on both sides, the wait for reunion continues, but for the first time in two agonising years, dawn feels possible.
