Washington DC [US]: US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan, marking what he described as a major breakthrough toward lasting peace in the Middle East.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“This means that all hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
He added that “all parties will be treated fairly,” calling it “a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, Israel, all neighboring nations, and the United States.” Trump also expressed gratitude to Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for mediating the deal, concluding, “Blessed are the peacemakers!”
According to the White House, Trump is set to undergo a routine annual medical check-up at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the president may travel to the Middle East shortly afterward, where negotiators are finalizing details of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya is meeting with Egypt’s intelligence chief to complete what sources described as a “historic Gaza agreement,” Al Jazeera reported. The final deal could be announced as early as Thursday, according to the outlet.
In a related development, the State of Palestine has accused Israel of carrying out a “genocidal war” in Gaza in a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The letter, published on Palestine’s official X account, claimed that Israel continues to commit “collective punishment” and pursue “colonisation and annexation” of occupied territories.
It stated that the death toll in Gaza since October 2023 has exceeded 2,37,000 Palestinians, with widespread destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure. The letter also warned that Israel’s actions could spread to the West Bank, amid rising settler violence and forced displacement.
“Israel’s degradation of life and international law must be halted. On this tragic second anniversary, we reiterate: This genocide must be stopped,” the letter concluded.
