Israel and Hamas Agree to ‘First Phase’ of Ceasefire; Trump’s Announcement Sparks Celebration in Gaza

Darwin, October 9 — U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that both Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his proposed Gaza peace plan.

Trump described the agreement as a “historic and unprecedented event” on his social media platform, Truth Social.

In his post, he wrote:

“I am immensely proud that both Israel and Hamas have signed on to the first phase of our peace plan.”

He further added:

“This means that all hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed line — a first step toward a strong, sustainable, and permanent peace.”

According to a report by The Times of Israel, Trump said all living Israeli hostages would likely be released by Monday, and the bodies of hostages held by Hamas would also be handed over.

Trump thanked the mediating countries — Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey — for their efforts in facilitating this announcement.

“This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, for Israel, for all nations surrounding it, and for the United States. 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!” he stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also welcomed the announcement.

According to Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, Hamas issued a statement confirming that they had reached a ceasefire agreement contingent on Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza, entry of humanitarian aid, and prisoner exchange.

Despite optimism around the agreement, analysts caution that implementation could be complex. Al Jazeera’s senior correspondent, Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington D.C., analyzed the situation.

According to Fisher’s analysis, a meeting at the White House involving former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner suggests that the agreement may be part of a larger “political theater.”

While the first phase includes urgent matters like hostage release and partial troop withdrawal, many long-term and difficult questions remain unresolved.

Key Unresolved Issues:

• Gaza’s Future Governance:
  Trump’s 20-point plan includes the disarmament of Hamas and the transfer of Gaza’s administration to an internationally supervised, non-political technocratic body. Hamas has outright rejected disarmament and voiced objections to international governance.

• Guarantee of Permanent Ceasefire:
  Hamas has consistently demanded a written guarantee of a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. In past negotiations, Israel has resumed attacks mid-talks, breaking ceasefires. Now, Hamas is seeking full implementation guarantees from President Trump and the mediating countries.

• Prisoner List:
  The first phase includes the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, potentially including high-profile detainees. Detailed discussions on the exchange list are still ongoing.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has invited Trump to visit Egypt for the signing ceremony, underscoring the significance of the agreement.

While the first phase marks a humanitarian breakthrough, Gaza’s long-term stability and final peace will depend on how skillfully the remaining contentious issues are addressed in future talks.

Celebrations in Gaza Following Ceasefire News

Videos recorded overnight show dozens of Palestinians celebrating the ceasefire announcement in the streets of Khan Yunis and central Gaza, singing and dancing.

In one celebration, a man is seen holding a Palestinian flag.

“To be honest, when I heard the news, I couldn’t hold myself back. Tears of joy flowed. Two years of bombing, terror, destruction, loss, humiliation, and the constant fear of death at any moment,” said displaced Gazan Samer Judeh to AFP.

“Now, we finally feel like we are getting a bit of respite,” he added.