A significant breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict has been reached, with both parties agreeing to the "first phase" of a peace plan brokered by Donald Trump. This agreement stipulates Hamas will release all 20 living hostages this weekend, while the Israeli military will withdraw from the majority of Gaza, facilitating aid entry and prisoner exchanges. Although lauded as a crucial step toward de-escalation and potential lasting peace, the deal leaves unresolved key issues such as Hamas's demilitarization and Gaza's future governance, suggesting continued geopolitical uncertainty for regional stability and market implications.
Live updates: Hamas to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, AP sources say Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday in announcing the outlines of the biggest breakthrough in months in the two-year-old war. “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,” Trump wrote on social media. “All Parties will be treated fairly!” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas said separately that the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as allow for the entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza. What to know: - Hamas’ response: The group said in a statement that the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump proposal. Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements all the agreed-upon provisions without delay or changes. - Israel’s response: Netanyahu said he would convene the Israeli government on Thursday to approve the deal. “I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. - Unanswered questions: It was not immediately clear whether the parties had made any progress on thornier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarize, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory. Palestinian aid coordinator says joy mixed with sorrow Eyad Amawi, a Palestinian aid coordinator displaced in central Gaza, says he has mixed feelings of happiness and sadness over the ceasefire deal. “We believe and don’t believe. We have mixed feelings, between happiness and sadness, memories, everything is mixed,” he said. Amawi said he hopes the deal is implemented as agreed so that people can return to their homes and begin to “renew the (will) and the hope for life” in Gaza where many children are injured and rubble is everywhere. His biggest fear, he said, is Israel putting obstacles to implementing the agreement. The eyes of the Palestinians in Gaza are on how the world will help Gaza to rebuild. “We need to fix everything here, especially the psychological effects to (continue) with our lives.” Amawi said the priority for him and everyone else is the return of the displaced to their homes. He plans to return to Gaza City as soon as the deal takes effect to resume his work and life, and help with the rehabilitation of the city. He said the news of the deal came late in Gaza, so most people were asleep. “The celebrations will be great. But also the sadness and the worries will be great also,” he said. To the world, Amawi said: “We need you.” ‘I can’t believe the news,’ Palestinian man says A Palestinian man, Ayman Saber, reacted to the ceasefire announcement. The Khan Younis resident said he plans to return to his home in the city and try to rebuild his house, which was destroyed in an Israeli strike last year. “I will rebuild the house, we will rebuild Gaza,” he said. Grandson of slain and released hostages thanks Trump Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandmother was freed and grandfather was killed in captivity, on Wednesday thanked world leaders for helping secure the newly signed agreement to release all hostages held in Gaza. “We express our deepest gratitude as the historic agreement has been signed — the hostages, our brothers and sisters, are coming home,” Lifshitz said in a statement. He thanked Trump for his “decisive leadership and unwavering commitment to bringing every hostage back within 72 hours,” and also praised the roles of Egyptian, Turkish and Qatari leaders and negotiators, citing their “personal dedication and relentless efforts.” Lifshitz also expressed appreciation to Israel’s negotiation team and Netanyahu “for their determination and courage in achieving this vital agreement.” From the 20 hostages returned, four are from his community including lifelong friends. “This united cooperation and shared moral responsibility have proven that when the right people stand together, humanity prevails” he said. UN welcomes Gaza peace agreement as ‘desperately needed breakthrough’ U.N. Secretary General António Guterres welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas late Wednesday while urging all parties to “abide fully by the terms of the agreement.” Guterres said that the U.N. will support the full implementation of the agreement and is ready to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been sitting on the border of Jordan and Egypt. “I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,” he said. Displaced Palestinian man waits to return home “It’s a huge day, huge joy,” Ahmed Sheheiber, a Palestinian displaced man from northern Gaza, said of the ceasefire deal. Crying over the phone from his shelter in Gaza City, he said he is waiting “impatiently” for the ceasefire to go into effect to return to his home in the Jabaliya refugee camp. Netanyahu and Trump congratulate each other Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Wednesday, and the two congratulated each other on the agreement to release all hostages, which Netanyahu’s office described as a “historic achievement.” According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, the conversation was “warm and moving.” Netanyahu thanked Trump for his “efforts and global leadership,” while Trump praised Netanyahu’s “determined leadership and the actions he led.” JUST IN: Netanyahu and Trump spoke about the ‘historic achievement’ of reaching Gaza deal, Israeli leader’s office says This will be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down. The second, in January and February of this year, saw Palestinian militants release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment. Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza. JUST IN: Hamas to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, AP sources say, as Israelis to withdraw from majority of Gaza Netanyahu says he’ll convene the Israeli government tomorrow to approve the deal “I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. Hamas says a deal has been reached to end the war in Gaza The group said the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops, entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners. The group said in a statement that the deal came after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the Trump proposal. Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements all the agreed-upon provisions without delay or changes. Marco Rubio passed Trump an urgent note on the Mideast peace deal In an unrelated meeting at the White House before the news was announced, Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed Trump a handwritten note imploring the president to give his OK to a social post related to a Middle East deal. “You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first,” the hand-scrawled note read, on White House stationery. As Trump fielded some questions from gathered reporters, Rubio stood off to the side, seemingly anxious for the president to come with him to turn toward the Middle East negotiations. In the meeting, Trump proclaimed, “We’re very close to a deal in the Middle East.” Hostages Families Forum reacts The grassroots organization representing many of the hostage families said it received the news of a ceasefire with “excitement, anticipation, and apprehension.” The Forum called on the Israeli government to immediately convene to approve the deal, and praised Trump for his “commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough.” No immediate reaction in Gaza The news emerged in the middle of the night, and electricity and communications are limited. Palestinians in Gaza have said they are desperate for the war to end, though many also believed Trump’s plan favored Israel. Progress on more divisive aspects of Trump’s plan remain unknown It was unclear from Trump’s statement how much progress had been made on Hamas’ potential disarmament and the future governance of Gaza, or how those issues were linked to the exchange of hostages for prisoners. Hamas has long said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and guarantees that the war would not resume after they are freed. It has also refused calls to disarm, a key demand made by Israel. Senior Hamas official says it received ‘strong guarantees’ the war would not resume A senior Hamas official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter, says the group has received “strong guarantees” from the U.S. administration that the war won’t resume. The official said the Israeli military will withdraw from “densely populated areas” during the first phase, and that the strip will be flooded with humanitarian aid and heavy equipment to remove the rubble. JUST IN: Netanyahu says, ‘With God’s help we will bring them all home,’ after Trump announces first phase of Israel-Hamas deal Trump announces first phase of Israel-Hamas peace deal Trump announced on his social media site Wednesday night that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first Phase” of his peace plan. “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,” Trump wrote. “All Parties will be treated fairly! A significant breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict has been reached, with both parties agreeing to the "first phase" of a peace plan brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This agreement, confirmed by AP sources and Trump on Wednesday, stipulates Hamas will release all 20 living hostages this weekend, while the Israeli military will withdraw from the majority of Gaza. The deal also facilitates aid entry and prisoner exchanges, marking the "biggest breakthrough in months" for the two-year-old war. Despite this progress, significant "unanswered questions" remain regarding Hamas's demilitarization and the future governance of Gaza, issues that were not immediately clear if progress was made. Previous ceasefires in November 2023 and January-February of this year ultimately broke down, highlighting the fragility of such agreements. Hamas has also indicated it "refused calls to disarm" and seeks "strong guarantees" the war will not resume. Stakeholder reactions are mixed; the UN welcomed the deal as a "desperately needed breakthrough," while displaced Palestinians and hostage families expressed "mixed feelings" and "apprehension" concerning implementation. The general market sentiment is "moderately positive" (score of 0.45) with an "optimistic" tone and a "moderate market impact" (score of 0.55). Notably, DJT (Trump Media & Technology Group) exhibited a "strongly positive" per-ticker sentiment of 0.8, reflecting Trump's high-profile role.
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moderately positive
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0.45
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