Cairo/Washington/Gaza, October 9, 2025: The first phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end Israel’s devastating bombardment of Gaza came into effect on Thursday at 9 a.m. GMT (2 p.m. PKT), Egyptian state-affiliated broadcaster Al-Qahera News reported.
The breakthrough marks a major development in efforts to halt a war that has killed tens of thousands, leveled much of the Gaza Strip, and triggered a humanitarian catastrophe. The agreement, reached after months of negotiations, includes a ceasefire, a large-scale exchange of captives and prisoners, and the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.
According to US President Donald Trump, Hamas has agreed to release all remaining captives, while Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed line inside Gaza. The plan also envisions a surge in international humanitarian assistance.
Sources close to the talks told AFP that in the first phase, Hamas will exchange 20 living captives for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners — including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the conflict began in October 2023. The exchange is expected to take place within 72 hours of the agreement’s implementation.
“This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace,” Trump announced on his Truth Social platform.
He thanked mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye, adding: “Blessed are the peacemakers!”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the agreement as a “critical turning point,” saying, “Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this moment. With God’s help, all our hostages will come home.”
The Israeli military confirmed that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had ordered troops to prepare for the captives’ return “with sensitivity and professionalism,” while also strengthening defensive positions.
In Gaza, anticipation and cautious optimism spread through displaced communities. “We’re closely following every bit of news about the ceasefire,” said 50-year-old Mohammed Zamlot, who fled northern Gaza. “We just want the war to end.”
Speaking to Reuters, Trump described the agreement as “a great day for the world,” adding that the deal demonstrated unprecedented international unity. “Every country has come together on this one. This is a wonderful day for everybody,” he said.
The US president revealed he may travel to the Middle East “toward the end of the week,” possibly to Egypt or even Gaza, to oversee the peace process’s early progress. His son-in-law and former senior adviser Jared Kushner, along with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, were already present in Cairo during the negotiations.
Qatar described the deal as “the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid.” Turkish intelligence chief İbrahim Kalın and Qatar’s prime minister were also involved in the Cairo talks.
Hamas representatives were joined by delegations from Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — both of which hold captives in Gaza.
The negotiations coincided with the second anniversary of Israel’s military campaign, which, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has killed at least 67,183 people — figures the United Nations has deemed credible. Israeli bombardments reportedly continued in some areas just hours before the ceasefire took effect.
Arab nations have welcomed the truce but stressed that Trump’s plan must eventually lead to an independent Palestinian state. “The ceasefire is an important first step, but the end goal must be sovereignty for Palestine,” one Arab diplomat said.
The next stage of Trump’s plan reportedly calls for an international post-war administration for Gaza, overseen by a body including Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Hamas has rejected any foreign-led governance, saying it would hand over administration only to a Palestinian technocrat government backed by Arab and Muslim countries.
Israeli officials, meanwhile, maintain that Hamas must play no role in Gaza’s post-war future.
Global outrage over Israel’s military campaign has mounted in recent months, with multiple UN experts and human rights organizations describing the assault as “genocidal.” Israel insists its actions constitute self-defense following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
The war has left most of Gaza in ruins, displaced millions, and caused widespread famine, pushing the international community to demand an end to hostilities.
As night fell in southern Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area, residents celebrated the announcement with chants of “Allahu Akbar” and bursts of gunfire into the air. For many, the long-awaited ceasefire offered a rare moment of hope after two years of relentless conflict.
