In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the agreement provides for the release of all captives “soon” and for Israeli forces to withdraw to “an agreed line,” calling it the first step toward a “strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
He added that all parties “will be treated fairly,” describing the day as “a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, for Israel, for the United States, and for all neighboring nations.”
Trump also thanked the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their role in reaching what he called “a historic and unprecedented event,” ending his message with the phrase “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
The announcement came amid diplomatic efforts intensified in recent days to reach a comprehensive deal to end the war.
Top officials from Egypt, the United States, Qatar and Turkey have been mediating indirect talks between Israel and Hamas since Monday to reach an agreement to end the war.
On Friday, Hamas stated its agreement to release all remaining Israeli captives, alive and dead, in response to President Trump's 20-point plan to end the war.
A senior White House official stated that the US administration expects the release of Israeli prisoners to begin next Monday, with the possibility of accelerating the timeline.
CNN quoted the White House official as saying that "it is possible that the release date will be brought forward."
The official indicated that the expected timeline for the agreement begins with the deal being presented to the Israeli cabinet for a vote on Friday.
The official added: "Once the 'yes' vote is received, Israel must withdraw to the agreed-upon line, which should take less than 24 hours," noting that "after that, the 72-hour period begins, and Hamas will try to execute it earlier if possible."
The Trump announcement on Thursday of a deal between Hamas and Israel comes amid growing international condemnation of the Israeli genocidal war and starvation policies against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has killed over 67,000 Palestinians dead, and wounded nearly 168,000 others, mostly women and children, since 7 October 2023.
Two years of Israeli carpet bombing destroyed most homes and infrastructure and displaced most of the 2.3 million population.
In tandem, an Israeli blockade on the entry of food, water, and medicince has plunged the population into famine, the first-ever in the Middle East.
Shortly after the US president's announcement, Hamas issued a statement saying it had reached an agreement to end the war on Gaza after what it described as “responsible and serious” negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh over President Trump's proposal.
According to the Palestinian resistance group, the deal includes a complete cessation of the Israeli war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange between the resistance and Israel.
In its statement, Hamas also expressed its appreciation for the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as Trump’s role in pushing for “a complete and final end to the war and the full withdrawal of the occupation.”
The movement called on President Trump, the guarantor states, and all Arab, Islamic, and international actors to ensure that Israel implements the agreement in full and to prevent it from evading or delaying its commitments.
Hamas also paid tribute to the Palestinian people in Gaza, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the diaspora, praising their “unparalleled courage and steadfastness in confronting the occupation’s fascist projects” aimed at erasing Palestinian rights.
“The sacrifices of our people will not be in vain,” the statement said, reaffirming the movement’s commitment to its convenant and never abandon "our national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”
Israel’s prime minister's office issued a statement saying that Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Trump.
“The two held a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement," the statement said.
He invited Trump to address the Knesset, the statement said
In tandem, the Spokesperson of the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Majed Al-Ansari, stated that the mediators announced an agreement had been reached on all provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement tonight.
On his official X account, he also indicated that the agreement “will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid.”
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