CAIRO — In a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump announced early Thursday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a peace framework that will lead to the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. The agreement — finalized after marathon negotiations in Cairo — marks the most significant development since the October 7, 2023 massacre that ignited the two-year-long war.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan,” Trump wrote on social media, calling it “a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.” According to U.S. and Israeli officials, the hostages will be freed within 72 hours after Israel’s cabinet votes on the deal, expected later Thursday.
Trump described the accord as a “great day for the world,” crediting his direct diplomacy with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and regional leaders for achieving what he called “the impossible.”
In a statement from Jerusalem, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the two leaders held an “emotional and warm conversation,” congratulating one another on what they called a historic achievement. Trump is expected to travel to Israel on Sunday, where he will reportedly address the Knesset in a symbolic show of unity.
Sources close to the talks said the deal — brokered with Egyptian mediation
