Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Trump’s Gaza Peace Deal

US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his proposed Gaza peace deal, a breakthrough that could mark a significant step towards ending months of conflict.Under the agreement, Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners will be released, Israeli forces will withdraw from parts of Gaza, and humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter the enclave.Israel’s government is scheduled to meet today to give formal approval to the deal. If ratified — which appears virtually certain — a ceasefire will come into effect immediately. The US administration said that all remaining Israeli hostages would be freed by Monday, outlining a timeline of possible next steps.Hamas has confirmed its acceptance of the agreement, although a Palestinian source told the BBC that the group has not yet received the final list of prisoners Israel plans to release in exchange.Despite the optimism surrounding the announcement, analysts ...

• 09 Oct 2025