After months of diplomatic deadlock, US President Donald Trump has secured a long-awaited ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, marking a major breakthrough in efforts to end the Gaza conflict.
The agreement, brokered with the help of Arab and Muslim allies, will bring a temporary halt to fighting and see Hamas release 48 hostages, around 20 believed to be alive, in the coming days. The deal follows weeks of intensive diplomacy led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
According to senior US officials, Hamas agreed to the truce after recognizing that holding the hostages had become a liability. The group’s acceptance comes despite lingering disputes over disarmament and Gaza’s post-war governance.
The ceasefire follows a tense series of events, including an Israeli airstrike in Doha that killed several Hamas members and a Qatari officer, straining regional relations. However, Qatar remained engaged, helping shape Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which was later endorsed by eight Arab and Muslim leaders during UN meetings in New York.
Under the agreement, Hamas will release all hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
While Israeli officials remain skeptical about Hamas’ commitment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the start of the plan’s first phase. Trump said he hopes the deal will help restore Israel’s global standing, emphasizing that “Israel cannot fight the world.”
The agreement, brokered with the help of Arab and Muslim allies, will bring a temporary halt to fighting and see Hamas release 48 hostages, around 20 believed to be alive, in the coming days. The deal follows weeks of intensive diplomacy led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
According to senior US officials, Hamas agreed to the truce after recognizing that holding the hostages had become a liability. The group’s acceptance comes despite lingering disputes over disarmament and Gaza’s post-war governance.
The ceasefire follows a tense series of events, including an Israeli airstrike in Doha that killed several Hamas members and a Qatari officer, straining regional relations. However, Qatar remained engaged, helping shape Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which was later endorsed by eight Arab and Muslim leaders during UN meetings in New York.
Under the agreement, Hamas will release all hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
While Israeli officials remain skeptical about Hamas’ commitment, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the start of the plan’s first phase. Trump said he hopes the deal will help restore Israel’s global standing, emphasizing that “Israel cannot fight the world.”
