US President Announces First Phase of US-Brokered Israel-Hamas Gaza Peace Plan

US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a U.S.-brokered peace plan to pause fighting in Gaza and release hostages, ending the two-year-old war. Trump’s announcement followed an intense day of negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. According to reports, the agreement’s first phase includes the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for several Palestinian prisoners, alongside a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Trump’s 20-point peace framework, which formed the basis of the negotiations, also calls for Hamas’s disarmament and an internationally supervised reconstruction of Gaza. The initial phase of the Gaza peace deal was confirmed by Israeli officials, Hamas, and mediator Qatar. In a statement, Hamas said it has reached an agreement to end the war in Gaza, saying the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage-prisoner exchange. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the announcement, describing it as a great day for Israel. The agreement was reached just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.