Israel, Hamas Agree to First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal
<h3><strong>Israel, Hamas Approve First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal: 20 Hostages for 2,000 Prisoners</strong></h3><p>In a major diplomatic breakthrough, U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a comprehensive peace framework designed to end the devastating Gaza war. The deal marks the most significant step toward peace since hostilities began two years ago, with both sides approving a large-scale hostage and prisoner exchange.</p><p>According to a source within Hamas, the group will release 20 living hostages in exchange for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The initial phase is being viewed as a critical move to build trust between the two parties and pave the way for a full ceasefire and reconstruction plan for Gaza.</p><p>The announcement came on the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has since killed over 67,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, leaving the enclave in ruins and triggering one of the worst humanitarian crises in decades.</p><h3><strong>Trump Hails ‘Breakthrough’ Peace Framework</strong></h3><p>President Trump hailed the agreement as a “breakthrough” and said the United States will play an active role in ensuring the peace plan’s success. Speaking to Fox News shortly after the announcement, he said:</p><blockquote><p>“We’ll be involved in helping them make it successful and keeping it peaceful. I’m very confident there’ll be peace in the Middle East.”</p></blockquote><p>The U.S. president also confirmed that the first group of released hostages is expected to return home by Monday. “So much is happening to get the hostages freed,” Trump said. “We think they’ll all be coming back Monday — including the bodies of the dead.”</p><p>Trump’s remarks followed his unveiling of a <strong>20-point peace plan</strong> aimed at ending two years of war, facilitating humanitarian aid, and rebuilding Gaza with international support.</p><h3><strong>Israel, Hamas Respond to the Deal</strong></h3><p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the agreement a “diplomatic success and a moral victory,” noting that it demonstrated Israel’s determination to bring its citizens home while advancing peace. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that preparations were underway to receive the returning hostages.</p><blockquote><p>“The Chief of Staff instructed to be prepared to lead the upcoming operation to return the abductees with sensitivity and professionalism,” the IDF said in a statement on X.</p></blockquote><p>Hamas, meanwhile, declared that the deal includes “an end to the war on Gaza, the occupation’s withdrawal, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange.” However, the group did not elaborate on whether it plans to disarm or allow a neutral authority to govern Gaza once hostilities end.</p><h3><strong>Unresolved Issues and Global Reactions</strong></h3><p>While the deal is being celebrated as a breakthrough, significant issues remain unresolved. Analysts point out that key sticking points — including Hamas’s disarmament, Gaza’s post-war governance, and long-term security guarantees — have not yet been settled.</p><p>CNN reported that Trump’s announcement did not address who would administer Gaza after the ceasefire or how reconstruction efforts would be coordinated among international partners.</p><p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been leading mediation efforts alongside regional partners Egypt and Qatar, said the agreement is “only the beginning” of a long peace process. “We have made progress, but peace requires continued patience, trust, and commitment,” Rubio said in Washington.</p><p>The European Union and the United Nations both welcomed the development, urging all sides to maintain restraint and prioritize humanitarian access. Several world leaders also praised the U.S.-brokered plan for its potential to de-escalate regional tensions.</p><h3><strong>A Path Toward Peace and Reconstruction</strong></h3><p>As part of the framework, the United States has pledged to support Gaza’s rebuilding process through an international reconstruction fund, involving Arab nations, the EU, and global institutions. The initiative aims to restore critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and power facilities, while ensuring transparency in the flow of aid.</p><p>For millions of civilians in Gaza, the deal brings a glimmer of hope after years of destruction and loss. Humanitarian agencies say the ceasefire — if sustained — could finally allow the delivery of food, medicine, and shelter to hundreds of thousands displaced by the conflict.</p><p>Despite skepticism about long-term stability, observers agree that the first phase of the Israel-Hamas deal marks a rare and promising turning point. For now, the world watches closely as both sides prepare to take the first concrete steps toward ending one of the most violent and tragic conflicts in recent history.</p>