Negotiators in Egypt reached a deal to free the remaining hostages in Gaza and eventually end the Israel-Hamas War, US President Donald Trump announced early Thursday morning.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump wrote.
“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he will bring the cabinet for a vote on the deal.
A senior American official, stated that the hostages will be released 72 hours after the cabinet approves the deal.
In a statement to Reuters, Trump said that it was a “great day for the world.”
Trump, Netanyahu congratulate each other on Gaza deal
Netanyahu and Trump spoke shortly after the president announced the deal on Thursday.
A press release from the Prime Minister’s Office said the two “held a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement for the release of all the hostages.”
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for all his efforts and for his global leadership, and President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister for his determined leadership and the actions he led,” the release added.
Netanyahu also invited Trump to address the Knesset in the call.
Living hostages to be released in a single batch
The agreement means that Hamas will release all of the remaining 20 living hostages within the next 72 hours. A Hamas source told al Araby al Jadeed that all of them will be released in a single batch during the first phase of the deal.
The deal is expected to be signed in Egypt on Thursday afternoon, sources in the Hamas terrorist organization told Lebanese outlet al Mayadeen.
However, the release of the remaining deceased hostages might be delayed, as Israel has doubts that Hamas can locate all of them.
The Israel-Hamas War began over two years ago after the Palestinian terror group killed over 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 250 men, women, and children to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023.