Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the "first phase" of the plan to suspend fighting and release at least 20 hostages still alive. Donald Trump announced the "historic" achievement on his social media platform, Truth.

The release of the hostages and the withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip are the first phase of the agreement, which will come into force after its ratification by the Israeli government and the signing of the agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh.

"I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed the first phase of our peace plan. This means that all hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops along an agreed-upon line , as a first step toward a strong and lasting peace," the American president wrote at the end of a day when signs that an agreement was imminent had become increasingly clear. The agreement also includes the opening of five crossings for humanitarian aid .

"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 of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this historic and unprecedented event possible. Blessed are the peacemakers!" Trump wrote.

ISRAEL, GOVERNMENT RATIFICATION AWAITED

"With God's help, we will bring everyone home," commented Benjamin Netanyahu, who immediately convened Parliament to approve the plan and then called the American president. The ceasefire, Tel Aviv clarified, will only come into effect after ratification by the Israeli cabinet, which will meet at 6:00 PM local time (5:00 PM Italian time) . The far-right coalition in government with Netanyahu, as is well known, does not approve of the agreement: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich will vote against it . "There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue shedding rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid. For this reason alone, we cannot join in short-sighted celebrations or vote in favor of the agreement ."

JOY IN GAZA AND THE HAMAS STATEMENT

Joy erupted in the streets of Gaza and among the families of the hostages , who sent a video message to Trump. Hamas declared that "the agreement determines the end of the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of the IDF, the entry of aid, and the exchange of prisoners , after responsible and serious negotiations that the movement conducted together with the factions." The group also expressed "deep appreciation for the efforts of the brother mediators of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and of the American president." But Hamas also called on Trump to pressure Israel to respect the terms.

"We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, in the West Bank, within the homeland and in the diaspora, who have demonstrated heroic steadfastness and unparalleled dignity, opposing the fascist plans of the occupation aimed at targeting them and denying them their national rights. These sacrifices and heroic positions have thwarted Israel's plans for subjugation and deportation ," the Hamas statement reads. It concludes: "We reiterate that the sacrifices of our people will not be wasted, and that we will remain faithful to our commitment. We will not renounce the national rights of our people until they achieve freedom, independence, and self-determination ."

DETAILS TO BE CLARIFIED

A senior White House official told CNN that "once we vote in favor, Israel will have to withdraw to the line, which should take less than 24 hours." After Israel leaves, a 72-hour deadline for the release of Israeli hostages will begin . A senior Hamas official said that Israel will release 1,950 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 20 living hostages —this figure includes 250 life-sentenced prisoners and another 1,700 held since the start of the war.

"We think they'll start being released on Monday, even the dead ones ," Donald Trump said. According to the BBC, Israel rejected the release of Marwan Barghouti in the prisoner swap deal, despite Hamas's insistence on his release.

The historic agreement comes just two years after Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, attack, in which Hamas killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage . Since then, at least 67,183 people have been killed by Israeli military operations in Gaza, including 20,179 children , according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

A FIRST STEP

The details of the IDF withdrawal are unclear. The agreement announced last night is only the first step, US officials emphasize, suggesting there is still a long way to go before Donald Trump's 20-point plan is approved.

The talks focused almost exclusively on what will happen in the first days and weeks of the agreement: Israel's partial withdrawal from Gaza and the exchange of nearly 50 hostages, both living and dead, for Palestinian prisoners. Some of the more difficult points, such as Gaza's governance and the disarmament of Hamas fighters, will still need to be negotiated in the future , US officials emphasized.

IN ITALY

Giorgia Meloni calls this "extraordinary" news and thanks Donald Trump: "The agreement reached in Egypt to implement the first phase of President Trump's Peace Plan is extraordinary news that paves the way for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces along agreed-upon lines . I want to thank President Trump for his relentless pursuit of an end to the conflict in Gaza, and the mediators—Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey—for their efforts, which have proven crucial to the successful outcome. I now urge all parties to fully respect the agreed measures and work to swiftly implement the next steps envisaged in the Peace Plan."

"At this stage," the prime minister emphasizes, "there's talk of a truce, of the release of the hostages, which was an essential condition for starting a peace process, and on the other hand, of an initial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. After that, there's the whole issue of Hamas disarmament, of ensuring there are no new settlements in the West Bank, and of transitional management of the Gaza Strip. Hamas must have no role , and the Palestinian National Authority needs a reform process, and the international community, particularly the Arab countries, must play a role in ensuring a transitional government."

"Excellent news is coming from the Middle East: peace is near. Italy, which has always supported the US plan, is ready to do its part to consolidate the ceasefire, to deliver new humanitarian aid, and to participate in the reconstruction of Gaza. We are also ready to send troops if an international peacekeeping force is created to reunify Palestine ," stated Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani .

(Unioneonline)

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