Israel, Hamas Agree to Ceasefire Under Trump’s 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal following renewed negotiations in Cairo, marking the first major breakthrough in efforts to end the Gaza war since it began in October 2023.
The talks resumed after both sides accepted US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace framework, with the first phase of the agreement expected to be formally signed in Egypt on Thursday.
President Trump is also scheduled to visit Israel and Egypt later this week to mark the signing of the deal.
First Phase of the Gaza Ceasefire
Under the first stage of the agreement, Hamas will release the remaining 48 Israeli hostages taken during the October 7 attack — although only around 20 are believed to be alive. In return, Israel will free Palestinian prisoners held in its jails.
Following the model of previous ceasefire exchanges, Israel is expected to release about 100 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli hostage. Once all hostages are returned, Israel will also release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after the Hamas assault, including women and minors.
“For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans,” the White House said in a statement.
According to Trump’s plan, all hostages — both alive and deceased — must be released within 72 hours of Israel’s public acceptance of the agreement.
The first phase will also allow large-scale humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, where the United Nations has declared famine in several areas.
Ceasefire Terms and Military Pause
Under the terms of the deal, all military operations — including airstrikes, artillery fire, and ground offensives — will be suspended. Existing battle lines will remain frozen until both sides meet conditions for a full, staged withdrawal, according to the plan.
A “Historic” Breakthrough
Announcing the breakthrough on his Truth Social platform, President Trump declared:
“This is a GREAT day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all surrounding nations, and the United States of America. We thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”
The ceasefire comes just days after the world marked two years since the Gaza conflict began.
The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a deadly assault on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. In response, Israel imposed a total siege on Gaza and launched a military campaign that has since killed an estimated 67,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — according to local and UN estimates.
With aid blockades deepening the humanitarian crisis, the UN declared parts of Gaza in famine, urging immediate relief access.
The Trump-backed agreement is now being viewed as the most significant diplomatic development since the start of the war, potentially paving the way for broader peace talks in the Middle East.
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