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President Trump announces Hamas and Israel agree to end the war
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have signed onto the first phase of a peace plan concerning a ceasefire in Gaza. He confirmed that all detainees will soon be released, and that Israel will move its forces to an agreed-upon line, paving the way for a long-term and robust reconciliation.
In a post on the Truth Social platform early Thursday, Trump described the day as “great for the Arab and Islamic worlds, for Israel, and for the United States,” expressing gratitude to Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey for their roles in achieving this “historic and unprecedented event.”
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Majid Al-Ansari, announced that mediators reached an agreement early today that includes all terms and mechanisms for implementing the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. The goal of the agreement is to end the war, release detainees, and allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, with further details to be clarified later.
Hamas also announced on Thursday that it had reached a comprehensive agreement aimed at ending the aggression on Gaza after serious negotiations with Palestinian resistance factions concerning Trump’s proposal presented in Sharm El-Sheikh. The movement’s statement indicated that the agreement includes stopping the war, Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, aid entry, and a prisoner exchange.
In related developments, Trump published an updated map showing the outlines of the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, approximately a week after announcing the first phase of the exchange agreement. The map highlights that Rafah city and the Philadelphia axis along the Egyptian border remain under Israeli control. It also shows that Beit Hanoun will continue to be within the occupied areas, while the central Gaza Strip and Khan Yunis are expected to see larger withdrawals. The northern Gaza Strip remains excluded from withdrawal so far, with government and occupation warnings urging caution regarding moves toward the north.
