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AMMAN — Former US President Donald Trump announced early Thursday that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of his Gaza peace plan, marking an official end to more than two years of war on the besieged enclave.

According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the signing ceremony is set to take place in Egypt on Thursday around noon. The agreement follows days of indirect talks held discreetly in Sharm El Sheikh, with mediation by the United States, Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in over 67,183 deaths and 169,841 injuries, most of them women and children, alongside famine that claimed 460 lives, including 154 children.

First phase agreement

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “I’m proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the plan,” adding that all hostages will soon be released and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line — “the first steps toward strong, lasting, eternal peace.”

He described the day as “great for the Arab and Islamic worlds, for Israel, and for the United States,” thanking Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their roles in achieving what he called a “historic and unprecedented event.” Trump also suggested that hostages could be released by Monday, including the bodies of the dead.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari confirmed that mediators reached a full agreement early Thursday covering all terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the ceasefire. He said the deal includes halting hostilities, releasing Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Hamas also announced that it had reached a comprehensive agreement to end the war after what it described as responsible and serious negotiations around Trump’s proposal in Sharm El Sheikh. In a statement, the group said the deal provides for the withdrawal of Israeli forces, entry of aid, and prisoner exchange.

Celebrations erupted in Gaza’s southern areas, particularly in Mawasi near Khan Younis, where displaced residents wept with joy and chanted in relief after two years of bombardment and displacement. However, Gaza’s government media office urged residents to remain cautious and avoid movement until an official confirmation from Palestinian authorities is issued.

Signing and key provisions

A source familiar with the talks said the official signing would take place in Egypt at noon Thursday (09:00 GMT). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his government to approve the deal and “bring our hostages home.”

According to Hamas and Palestinian officials, the first phase includes the release of 20 Israeli hostages alive in exchange for 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 detained after October 7, 2023, alongside a scheduled Israeli withdrawal.

Trump plan

Trump’s plan envisions Gaza as a “demilitarised, de-radicalised zone” posing no threat to its neighbours. It calls for immediate ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal, and full exchange of captives within 72 hours of the agreement’s announcement. Israel is to release 250 life-term prisoners, 1,700 detainees from Gaza — including all women and minors — and return 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli body retrieved.

The plan outlines the formation of an interim technocratic Palestinian committee, supported by international experts, to manage Gaza’s daily affairs under the supervision of a newly created International Peace Council led by Trump, with figures including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The council will oversee reconstruction, economic development, and governance until the Palestinian Authority completes reforms and resumes control. The US and regional partners are also to deploy an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to secure borders, prevent arms smuggling, and assist in rebuilding.

The plan specifies that Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza, and will gradually withdraw as the ISF establishes security. Gaza will become an economic zone with international investment and open trade links, while all military infrastructure, including tunnels and weapons factories, will be dismantled under independent supervision.

Finally, the plan calls for interfaith dialogue and long-term political talks toward a viable Palestinian state once stability and reconstruction are secured.