A senior Hamas official has rejected Donald Trump’s proposal for a transitional “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war administration.
Under the US president’s plan, the board would be headed by Mr Trump and Sir Tony Blair, the former prime minister.
Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official who has been involved in previous negotiations between the terror group and the US, said that no Palestinian faction would accept such a plan.
“All the factions, including the Palestinian Authority, reject this,” he told Qatar’s Al Araby television network on Thursday.
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza that will allow for the release of the remaining hostages held inside the Strip, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
But Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan, unveiled on Sept 29, also called for post-war Gaza to be governed by a transitional authority headed by himself alongside Sir Tony.
Mr Trump did not address the Hamas spokesman’s concerns during his live-streamed cabinet meeting on Thursday. Instead, he said that disarmament would be part of the second phase of a Gaza deal, with Israel insisting that Hamas must give up its weapons.
“There will be disarming,” Mr Trump said, adding that Israeli forces would also conduct “pullbacks”.
He was non-committal when asked about a two-state solution, saying he would follow whatever was ultimately agreed on. “I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agreed to,” he said.
On what Palestinians can expect, he added: “We’re going to create something where people can live … We’re going to create better conditions for people.”
In a speech to the Palestinian public, Khalil al-Hayya, the exiled leader of Hamas, said Israel and Hamas had “reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people.”
He also said Hamas had received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators and Turkey that the war on Gaza had permanently ended.
Details of the hostage and prisoner releases also emerged on Thursday. Israel outlined a multi-step process beginning with the IDF pulling its forces back, once its cabinet had formally approved the plan.
After it withdraws to an agreed line – leaving Israel in control of about 53 per cent of the Gaza Strip – Hamas will be required to release the 48 hostages it is holding within 72 hours.
The process will begin with the 20 believed to be alive. The hostages will be handed to the Red Cross, which will transfer them to IDF troops within Gaza. The soldiers will then escort them to the Re’im military base near the border, where their families will be waiting.
Those needing urgent care will be flown directly to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. The remains of the dead hostages will be received by troops inside Gaza, where a brief ceremony led by a military rabbi will be held before repatriation.
The release of Palestinian prisoners will take place only after the initial 72-hour period, during which Hamas is to release all Israeli hostages.
If any of the dead hostages remain in Gaza, a different, “classified” response will take effect, according to a draft of the deal seen by Channel 12. Israel is already anticipating that Hamas may be unable to locate all of the remains.
Hamas has previously said it did not know where the remains of all of the dead hostages were.
Israel, the US, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt announced on Thursday that they would take part in a joint task force to locate the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza whose locations were unknown.
08:27pm
That’s all for today
Thank you for following our live coverage of negotiations over peace in Gaza, and of Trump declaring peace in the Middle East.
08:03pm
Air strikes in Khan Younis leave 40 trapped under rubble
Palestinian media, citing the Hamas-run Gaza Civil Defence agency, has reported that an Israeli strike in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood has trapped some 40 people under rubble.
The agency said that the bodies of four were recovered from the building that was targeted, “and more than 40 people are still under the rubble.”
07:53pm
Israel security minister threatens Israeli government collapse if Hamas remains intact
Far-right Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned on Thursday that his Jewish Power party would push to topple prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government unless Hamas is ultimately dismantled.
“If the Hamas government is not dismantled, or if they only tell us that it is dismantled while in reality it continues to exist under a different guise – Jewish Power will dismantle the government,” Mr Ben-Gvir said.
07:40pm
Israel’s cabinet convening to vote on deal
Israel’s security cabinet meeting to approve the ceasefire and hostage-release phase of the US plan has concluded, The Times of Israel has reported.
The full cabinet will now convene to vote on – and if successful ratify – the deal.
07:36pm
Hamas says it has guarantees that the war will permanently end
Exiled Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said on Thursday the group has received guarantees from the United States, Arab mediators and Turkey that the war on Gaza has permanently ended.
He said that Israel and Hamas had “reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people” and that he had received confirmation that the initial ceasefire would lead to a sustained ceasefire.
07:31pm
UN aims to surge aid and medical supplies into Gaza once ceasefire starts
The United Nations plans to ramp up its delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in the first 60 days of a ceasefire in the enclave, a top UN official said on Thursday.
“We will aim to increase the pipeline of supplies to hundreds of trucks every day. We will scale up the provision of food across Gaza to reach 2.1 million people who need food aid and around 500,000 people who need nutrition,” said Tom Fletcher, the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.
“Famine must be reverted in areas where it has taken hold and prevented in others,” he added.
07:18pm
Draft ceasefire deal includes release of 20 living hostages
The draft ceasefire deal being reviewed by Israel’s security cabinet includes the names of 20 living hostages and 28 bodies to be released from Gaza, Channel 12 reports.
The fact that it includes 28 bodies implies that two hostages have died who have not been officially declared dead.
Israel had previously expressed “grave concern” over the health of three hostages through to be alive, said to be Israeli hostage Tamir Nimrodi, Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi and Thai hostage Pinta Nattapong, according to The Times of Israel.
06:35pm
Trump: No view on two-state solution
Donald Trump has said he had no view regarding the possibility of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agreed to,” he told reporters at a meeting of his Cabinet. On what Palestinians can expect, he added: “We’re going to create something where people can live … We’re going to create better conditions for people.”
06:20pm
Trump says ‘there will be disarming’ in next phase of Gaza deal
Donald Trump said that disarmament would be part of the second phase of a Gaza deal, with Israel insisting that Hamas must give up its weapons.
“I’m not going to talk about that because you sort of know what phase two is. But… there will be disarming,” Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting, adding that there would also be “pullbacks” by Israeli forces.
06:16pm
Watch: Trump’s cabinet meeting in full
06:11pm
Trump agrees to address Israel’s Knesset
Donald Trump has said he has agreed to speak to the Israeli Knesset and will do so if requested by officials there.
“They asked me to speak at the Knesset and … I’ve agreed to if they would like me to,” Mr Trump told reporters as he met his Cabinet at the White House.
06:00pm
In pictures: A truck carries a military tank inside Gaza
A truck carries a military tank from inside the Gaza Strip in southern Israel – AP Photo/Ariel Schalit
05:39pm
Hamas rejects Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan on Thursday told Qatar-based broadcaster Al Araby that Hamas rejects Donald Trump’s proposal for an interim “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s administration, headed by the US president himself.
Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire deal to free hostages held in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails following indirect negotiations in Egypt.
But Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan, on which the indirect negotiations were based, also calls for post-war Gaza to be ruled by a transitional authority governed by a board headed by Mr Trump.
“No Palestinian would accept this. All the factions, including the Palestinian Authority, reject this,” Mr Hamdan told Al Araby Television Network.
05:24pm
Trump says he will ‘try’ to go to Egypt for Gaza deal signing
Donald Trump said he would try to go to Egypt for the signing of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.
“I’m going to try and make a trip over. We’re going to try and get over there, and we’re working on the timing, the exact timing,” Mr Trump said.
05:23pm
Egypt’s Sisi tells Trump he ‘deserves Nobel Peace Prize’
Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told his US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone call that he “deserves the Nobel Peace Prize” for bringing about a deal to end the war in Gaza.
He invited Trump to “participate in the celebration to be held in Egypt to mark the conclusion of the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip”, the first phase of which has been signed during talks in Egypt.
The statement from Sisi’s office said the president “stressed the need to move forward toward implementing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip in all its stages”.
05:14pm
‘We will work with Iran’, says Trump
Donald Trump says the US will work with Iran so it can “rebuild” its country.
“We will work with Iran, as you know we have major sanctions on Iran, we would like to see them rebuild their country too, but we they can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
He said that Tehran acknowledged that it is in favour of the Israel and Hamas peace deal.
05:10pm
Trump says hostages to be returned Monday or Tuesday
Donald Trump reacts as Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks – REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Donald Trump has said the Hamas-held hostages should be returned on Monday or Tuesday
“I’m going to try make a trip over,” he said. “It will be a day of joy.”
05:08pm
IDF releases hostage handover plan
Israel has released details of its hostage handover plan, outlining a multi-step process under the new Gaza ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
If the deal is approved in today’s cabinet meeting, a ceasefire is expected to take hold within 24 hours.
The IDF will pull back its forces to an agreed upon line which will see it retain control of about 53 per cent of the Gaza Strip, according to the plan.
Hamas is to release the 48 hostages it is holding – beginning with the 20 believed to be alive – within 72 hours of Israel’s troop withdrawal, as outlined by the US-brokered agreement.
They will be passed to the Red Cross who will transfer them to IDF troops within Gaza. The soldiers will then escort them to the Re’im military base near the border, where their families are waiting for them.
Hostages requiring urgent care will be flown directly to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. The remains of the dead hostages will be received by troops inside Gaza, where a brief ceremony led by a military rabbi will be held before repatriation.
04:58pm
Israel’s security cabinet begins meeting
Israel’s security cabinet meeting – which is being held ahead of the full cabinet meeting to vote on the peace deal – has started after an unexplained delay of an hour and a half.
Israel’s Channel 12 has reported that the delay was in part caused by ongoing discussions regarding the list of Palestinian security prisoners to be released.
04:51pm
Trump’s cabinet meeting delayed
Donald Trump was due to hold a cabinet meeting at 4pm UK time following the signing of a Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, but it is currently delayed. We will bring you more updates as we have them.
04:29pm
Sinwar brothers’ bodies not included in deal
The bodies of Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammad, which were reportedly requested by Hamas as part of a hostage release agreement, will not be included in the deal, an Israeli official familiar with the matter told CNN on Thursday.
04:26pm
All of Netanyahu’s goals ‘achieved’
Benjamin Netanyahu’s three core goals have been achieved, his spokesperson has said.
“We have hit a critical point in this war,” said Shosh Bedrosian, the prime minister’s office spokesperson. “From day one in this war, the prime minister laid out three objectives – the return of all of our hostages, the defeat and dismantling of Hamas and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
“All of the prime minister’s objectives have now been achieved,” she said.
04:16pm
Israeli prime minister’s office posts AI photo of Trump winning Nobel Peace Prize
04:13pm
In pictures: ‘Nobel 4 Trump’ written in a field in northern Israel
A drone view shows ‘Nobel 4 Trump’ writing created by agricultural artist Peter Winner in a field, after Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire, near Kibbutz Maoz Haim in northern Israel – REUTERS/Guy Sherr
03:30pm
Trump and Netanyahu hold ‘emotional’ phone call
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu held an “emotional” phone call after the first stage of a peace deal was announced between Israel and Hamas.
The US-brokered agreement, signed this morning in Egypt, will lead to a pause in the fighting, the release of all 20 living hostages together and an Israeli military withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister thanked the US president “for his global leadership to make all this possible” in a call this morning, said Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian.
“It was a very emotional and a warm conversation as both leaders congratulated each other on this historic achievement,” she added.
Mr Netanyahu called the deal “a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel”. Gideon S’aar, Israel’s foreign minister, said Israel has an interest in “expanding the circle of peace” and normalisation in the Middle East.
03:17pm
Iran calls on international community to prevent Israel from violating its obligations
Iran called on the international community to prevent Israel from violating its obligations in Gaza, its foreign ministry said in a statement, after Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement to cease fire.
The foreign ministry said Tehran supports any effort that ends the “genocide” and the war in Gaza.
03:10pm
Israel preparing to receive hostages ‘in all conditions’
“All of our hostages, the living and deceased, will be released 72 hours later, which will bring us to Monday,” said Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian.
“Israel is preparing to receive our hostages in all conditions they may be in.”
02:58pm
Cooper to discuss next steps of peace plan with European ministers
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The UK Foreign Secretary will travel to Paris today to meet ministers from Europe, as well as from Qatar and Turkey, to discuss the next steps of Donald Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan.
The Telegraph understands that Yvette Cooper will take part in meetings with allies to discuss the implementation of the peace plan’s first phase, as well as how the second phrase, focused on ending the suffering in Gaza, will be achieved.
The Foreign Secretary will hold meetings with counterparts from France and Germany alongside ministers from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Spain to discuss building consensus on governance of Gaza after the conflict.
02:51pm
Barghouti will not be released, Israel says
The high-profile Palestinian prisoner Marwan Barghouti will not be exchanged as part of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release, Israel has announced.
Asked about rumours of his possible release, a government spokeswoman said: “I can tell you at this point in time that he will not be part of this release.”
Barghouti – from Hamas’s rival, the Fatah movement – was among the Palestinian prisoners Hamas wanted to see released as part of the Gaza deal.
Imprisoned since 2002, Barghouti, 66, has been nicknamed the “Palestinian Mandela”, his popularity amongst Palestinians has not wavered and he he is widely considered the only man capable of uniting disparate political factions.
Israel considers him as one of the masterminds behind a wave of bombings in Israel between 2000-2002 during the second Intifada – which he has always denied. He was convicted of multiple murders and given five life sentences.
If released, he could challenge Mahmoud Abbas, 89, the long-standing head of the Palestinian Authority and potentially mend the longstanding rift between the Fatah movement and Hamas.
02:17pm
Starmer: Gaza deal would not have happened without Trump
The first phase of a Gaza peace plan “would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership”, Sir Keir Starmer said on a visit to India.
Asked whether the US president deserves the Nobel Peace Prize at a press conference in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said: “This is a very significant step forward and it would not have happened without President Trump’s leadership on this.
“And I want to be really clear about that and I say that from the informed position of the UK having played a part behind the scenes in this with the US and with the mediators.
“What matters now is to press on and implement this.”
02:14pm
In pictures: Israelis and Palestinians take to the streets
Natali Zangauker, sister of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker and their mother Einav Zangauker, celebrate the news – REUTERS
A woman cheers in front of an Israeli flag in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv – AP
Palestinian children celebrate at a camp for displaced people in central Gaza – AFP
Palestinians flood the streets of the southern city of Khan Younis ahead of a ceasefire – Anadolu
01:52pm
Ceasefire will take effect ‘within 24 hours’ of cabinet meeting
Israel has announced that the ceasefire in Gaza will go into effect “within 24 hours” of the cabinet meeting to approve the deal.
Earlier, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that the ceasefire would come into effect this evening after the deal is ratified in a meeting at 3pm BST.
The update suggests Israel might be trying to extend the deadline to start the ceasefire.
After the 24 hours finishes, the 72 hour countdown for the hostages to be released will begin, a spokeswoman for the government said.
01:17pm
Turkey will help monitor Gaza ceasefire implementation, Erdogan says
Turkey will take part in efforts to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas, president Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.
“God willing, we as Turkey will take part in the mission force that will monitor the agreement’s implementation in the field,” he said, adding that Turkey will contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.
01:09pm
Lebanon has arrested 32 people suspected of spying for Israel
Lebanon has arrested 32 people in recent months on suspicion of providing Israel with information on Hezbollah that facilitated strikes on the Iran-backed militant group, a judicial official told AFP on Thursday.
More than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah – including two months of open war – saw Israel batter the group’s arsenal and kill a slew of senior commanders, and it has kept up strikes since a November truce.
Requesting anonymity, the official said that “at least 32 people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, six of them before the ceasefire”.
So far, “nine people have been tried by the military court”, while 23 are still under investigation, the official added.
Lebanon remains technically at war with Israel and any contact is punishable with imprisonment.
12:57pm
Hamas official says prisoner disagreement threatens Israel deal
A senior Hamas official has said that disagreements over what Palestinian prisoners Israel will release are threatening to derail the deal.
“It seems Netanyahu is trying to sabotage the ceasefire agreement before its implementation, by reneging on prisoner release lists in an attempt to derail the understandings,” wrote Mahmoud Mardawi on X.
12:50pm
British MPs welcome Trump’s deal
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MPs from both sides of the Commons have warmly welcomed the deal.
Jack Rankin, a Tory frontbencher who was twinned with hostage Avinatan Or as part of a campaigning push last year, said: “The news that Avinatan and the rest of the hostages will be returning home after two years in Hamas captivity brings long-awaited relief.
“I am thrilled that Avinatan will soon be reunited with his partner Noa, his mother Ditza, and his entire family. The suffering endured by the hostages and their loved ones has been unimaginable. Until every last one is safely home, we remain firmly committed to advocating for their release.”
Luke Akehurst, a Labour MP, added: “I’m overwhelmed with relief that the remaining Israeli hostages, including Evyatar David whose family I have met, are finally coming home two years after the horrors of 7 October 2023.
“Their suffering has been appalling and the steadfast campaigning by their families and friends has been essential to ensuring their plight was not forgotten.”
12:45pm
Watch: Gazans warned from returning north by explosive shot
12:37pm
Israel’s foreign minister signals end to the war is final
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It’s interesting to read the latest social media post from Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreign minister.
His lengthy message carries a tone of finality – that the war which started on October 7th is at an end.
Mr Saar praises Benjamin Netanyahu for showing “steadfastness in achieving all the war’s objectives.”
He describes the war in the past tense, adding: “It is good for Israel that in these days of conflict, he [Netanyahu] is the one who led it.”
He also discusses the potential of new normalisation agreements and deals to “expand the circle of peace” in the region.
This would suggest that Mr Trump’s reported pledge to block Israel re-starting the war after the release of the hostages has been accepted, or at least acknowledged, by the upper echelons of the Israeli government.
It bodes well for the next stages of the peace deal – and the release of the hostages. Hamas is only likely to fulfil the demands placed on it if it believes Israel will not simply return to battle once the first phase is over.
12:30pm
Pro-Palestine protest in London against Israel using UK arms
Around a dozen pro-Palestine gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Thursday morning, writes Emily Smith.
The Court of Appeal will hear a legal challenge today, brought by Al-Haq, a Palestinian NGO, arguing that it is illegal for the UK to continue licensing F-35 parts that can be accessed by Israel.
The High Court ruled in June that the issue was for Parliament and not the courts to decide.
The protestors held signs reading, “stop arming Israel, stop the genocide” and “let aid into all of Gaza now”.
Banging drums and waving flags they chanted, “David Lammy shame on you your hands are bloody too”, “Keir Starmer be afraid, Tony Blair go to hell”, and “UK Government you can’t hide, UK Government pick a side”.
In September last year, the Government suspended export licences for weapons and military equipment over the risk that UK arms could be used in serious violations of humanitarian law.
Outside the court, a woman who gave her name as Serena told The Telegraph that she would “absolutely not” stop protesting following the ceasefire.
“Of course we will continue,” she said. “Justice for Palestine. An end to apartheid.”
Pro-Palestinian protestors outside the Royal Courts of Justice today – Getty Images Europe
12:00pm
Israel, US and others launch task force to find dead hostage bodies
Israel, the US, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt will take part in a joint task force to locate the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza whose locations are unknown.
There are 48 remaining hostages, 28 of whom are believed to be dead.
Hamas must release their bodies to Israel under the terms of the new ceasefire deal.
11:37am
Pictured: Gazan children cheer at news of ceasefire deal
Palestinian children celebrate in Khan Younis this mourning following news of a new Gaza ceasefire deal – AFP
11:29am
Relief and heartbreak for hostage families
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Hostage families and campaigners including a former Hamas detainee have welcomed the landmark agreement reached between Israel and Hamas.
Adam Ma’anit, whose cousin Tsachi was kidnapped on Oct 7 and later killed by Hamas, added: “The news that a deal has finally been reached to bring home the remaining 48 hostages is what we have been hoping and fighting for throughout these painful two years.
“It’s impossible to describe the mix of relief and heartbreak we feel – relief that they may at last come home, and heartbreak that for some, it will be for burial […] We couldn’t bring my cousin Tsachi home alive, so this is a bittersweet day for our family. But the hostage families have become part of our extended family – their joy is our joy, and their pain is our pain.”
Ada Sagi, a peace activist held by Hamas for more than 50 days, and Noam Sagi, her son, said: “This is an extraordinary day and our hearts are racing to welcome them home.
“We will envelope them with love, with the warmth they’ve been denied for too long. Trump has shown that the impossible can be made possible”.
11:14am
Analysis: Trump’s victory leaves Hamas facing a bleak future
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At last a breakthrough – though as even Donald Trump conceded, these are but “the first steps”.
The significance of the moment should not be underplayed. Barring any unforeseen complications, there will be no Israeli hostages left in Gaza by early next week. Aid will be allowed into the shattered territory in meaningful quantities. The guns will fall silent.
No wonder they were dancing in the dead of night along Gaza’s rubble-strewn streets and on Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. After two years and two days of appalling carnage, first in Israel’s kibbutzim and later across the length of Gaza, there is at last cause for genuine hope.
For Hamas, the future is bleak. Once the hostages are released, it will have lost its final leverage over Israel.
A movement that has brought terror to Israel and misery to its own people for decades really now faces only two options: it can declare its own extinction as a meaningful fighting force – preserving an element of dignity and the hope of reinventing itself as a solely political entity – or it can have extinction thrust upon it.
11:03am
‘It’s time for peace’, says Board of Deputies of British Jews
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The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed its “deep appreciation” of President Trump and the families of the hostages, declaring: “It is time for peace”.
Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies, said that the news overnight offered hope of peace for the first time since the Oct 7 massacre.
He said: “The overnight news of an agreement to bring an end to the nightmare unleashed by Hamas on 7 October means that for the first time in two years, we can dare to hope for the release of all the hostages, and the conclusion of this terrible war.
“We convey our deep appreciation to President Trump, the mediators and, most of all, the indefatigable campaigning of the hostage families whose courage, resilience and determination has been a beacon to the world.
“We will celebrate the return of those living and praying for their swift recovery and care, and we will mourn the returning dead, thinking of their loved ones in their time of grief. It is time for healing. It is time for peace.”
11:01am
Israelis dance and celebrate the hostage deal in Tel Aviv
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Thousands of jubilant Israelis gathered in what has become known as Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where for two years, families of the hostages have gathered, hoped and prayed for the return of their loved ones.
Many wore stickers reading “They’re coming back”, waving Israeli and US flags and clutching photos of the captives.
One Israeli woman, Yael Cherni, told The Telegraph:“You must understand this is the first day in two years that I can breathe and the air actually gets into my lungs. We have been waiting to be rescued by someone. That someone is apparently Donald Trump.”
She continued: “So we are really praising this day. I have full faith in Trump and the deal he made which is incredibly wise. I have some doubt about whether all the 48 hostages will come out, that’s what scares me most. Not necessarily because Hamas will make it harder but maybe because it will be impossible to find them all. But I hope and pray that we will see them here as soon as possible.”
People celebrate in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square after Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire – REUTERS
Israelis also hold American flags as they rejoice at the news announced by Donald Trump last night – AP
10:52am
Netanyahu says cabinet approval needed before ceasefire
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that an agreement to secure the release of hostages in Gaza will take effect only after receiving cabinet approval.
“Contrary to Arab media reports, the 72-hour countdown will begin only after the agreement is approved in the cabinet meeting, which is expected in the evening hours,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said.
An Israeli official confirmed to The Telegraph that the cabinet is meeting at 5pm local time (3pm GMT) to discuss and vote on the peace plan.
Once approved, the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners is then set to occur within 72 hours.
10:40am
Hostages to be released Sunday or Monday
Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released by Monday as part of the first stage of a peace deal.
Under the terms of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, the 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas since the Oct 7 massacre will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. The terror group will also return 28 bodies.
In a call to the remaining captives’ families on Wednesday night, the US president told them: “The hostages will come back, they’re all coming back on Monday.”
Under the terms of the deal signed at midday Israel time (10am BST), the hostages must be released within 72 hours, however its unclear exactly when this will take place.
An Israeli official told Reuters that 20 hostages are expected to be released Sunday or Monday.
Mr Trump, who signalled he planned to fly to the region as soon as this weekend, hailed the “historic and unprecedented event” as the first step towards peace in the Middle East.
Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday expressed his “profound relief” for the hostages and for the population of Gaza who have “endured unimaginable suffering” and called on both sides to keep their promises.
Credit: Florida’s Voice
10:21am
First stage of Gaza peace deal signed
The first stage of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas has been signed, paving the way for nearly two years of war to end.
10:06am
Trump tells hostage families: ‘They’re all coming back on Monday’
09:53am
Farage hails Trump’s ‘great achievement’ in the Middle East
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Nigel Farage hailed Donald Trump’s “great achievement” in the Middle East.
The Reform UK leader, who has been a personal friend of Mr Trump for almost a decade, said: “Huge congratulations to President Trump and his team.
“Real progress between Israel and Hamas is a great achievement.”
Mr Farage opposed British recognition of Palestinian statehood last month and refused to rule out “de-recognising” Palestine.
09:39am
UK ‘ready to play our part’, says Cooper
The UK “stands ready to play our part” in implementing the Gaza peace plan, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said.
Britain will help realise not just the initial phase of the plan to end fighting in Gaza, she said, “but also on the crucial work going forward now on phase two as well”.
Speaking to reporters at Hillsborough Castle, she said: “Because that work will continue as nations across the world come together to support a just and lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
“We have seen some of the images of relief and hope on the streets of Gaza and on the streets of Israel overnight, and all nations will want to make sure that that is turned into reality.”
09:06am
Analysis: High hopes, but deal could still fall through
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With Donald Trump’s hostage deal announcement comes hope of a permanent end to the bloodshed in Gaza and agony in Israel. But many questions remain.
Can Hamas trust the US to prevent Israel restarting the war if they hand over all the hostages? Can they trust the IDF to withdraw in the agreed manner? And can Israel trust Hamas to disarm?
There are still ways this deal could fall through. Israeli negotiators are still working through the list of prisoners Hamas want released, which could include major terrorists with lots of Israeli blood on their hands.
There are also longer-term unresolved issues, including the disarmament and the IDF’s withdrawal timetable from Gaza.
And yet, at this moment, battle-hardened Israeli troops are preparing to relinquish territory their colleagues died to capture only a few days ago.
Most ordinary Gazans and a majority of Israelis have craved peace for some time. It seems Mr Trump has now managed to convince the remainder that they want it too.
09:01am
World leaders react to ceasefire deal:
UN
Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the UN, called for all hostages to be released “in a dignified manner” and for a permanent ceasefire to be secured. “The fighting must stop once and for all,” he said.
Palestine
Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, said he hoped that the deal “would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution”, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
EU
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, called the deal “a major diplomatic accomplishment”, which was “a real chance” to end the conflict and release the hostages.
Germany
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor, said the developments were “encouraging” and he was “confident” of a solution this week.
Spain
Pedro Sanchez, Spain’s prime minister and one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, said the civilian population should now be supported and “the atrocities experienced… never repeated.”
France
Emmanuel Macron, the French president, said the agreement “must mark the end of the war” and would pave the way for a “political solution”.
Italy
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, called the deal “extraordinary news” and urged “all parties ot respect the measures already agreed upon”.
China
Beijing hopes for a “permanent and comprehensive” ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, its foreign ministry said, adding that China’s position is that Palestinians should govern the territory in the future.
08:51am
Smotrich to vote against Gaza deal
Israel’s ultranationalist finance minister said he opposed the Gaza ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas and insisted he would vote against it.
Bezalel Smotrich said: “There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue to pour rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid.”
“For this reason alone, we cannot join in short-sighted celebrations or vote in favour of the deal,” he added.
Mr Smotrich, who leads the Religious Zionist party, has opposed previous deals and insisted the war must continue until Hamas is annihilated.
Meanwhile, Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, welcomed the deal, calling on Donald Trump to speak at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.
“There is nothing more fitting, more symbolic, more moving than a speech by President Trump in Hostages Square with the return home of our hostages. It would be a historic moment. I congratulate the families on the initiative,” Mr Lapid tweeted.
08:28am
Gaza must be run by Palestinians, says Cabinet minister
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A Cabinet minister has insisted Gaza must be run by Palestinians in the long run.
Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, told Sky News that neither Hamas nor the Israeli government should be in charge of the region.
He told Sky News: “Israel will be clear that Hamas can’t run Gaza in the future but it shouldn’t be a permanent Israeli-run area either.
“So it has to be in the long term run by Palestinians. In the meantime something will be put together to stabilise, begin to get the rebuilding effort going, and in the long term run by the Palestinians themselves.
“That’s the exciting prospect here. And it’s a prospect that hasn’t existed in a long, long time.”
08:22am
Israeli strikes on Gaza continue
Israeli strikes on Gaza continued overnight and into the morning.
Smoke can be seen billowing above the war-shattered coastal enclave while both Gazans and Israelis celebrate the news that the first stage of a peace had been agreed.
As we reported earlier, a ceasefire is expected to come into effect after the deal is signed at 10am BST.
Smoke rises from Gaza after the latest Israeli strikes this morning – AP Photo/Ariel Schalit
The ceasefire is expected to come into effect after the deal is signed at 10am BST – REUTERS/Ammar Awad
08:08am
Erdogan ‘greatly pleased’ by deal and Trump’s efforts
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s president, expressed satisfaction Thursday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and thanked Donald Trump’s efforts to end the war.
“I am greatly pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks… have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza, I especially thank US President, Mr. Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire,” Mr Erdogan said in a statement.
Turkey, which has been closely involved in the negotiations and sent a team to the talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, would “closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement”, he added.
07:59am
How Trump’s made-for-TV peace deal played out
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It was the sort of dramatic moment on which Donald Trump thrives.
The US president was presiding over a meeting about Antifa violence in Left-wing cities, cameras trained on his every move, when Marco Rubio, his secretary of state, passed him a note.
“I was just given a note by the secretary of state,” announced the president, hushing his audience, “saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly”.
A photographer captured the text with a long lens.
“Very close,” read the scrawl, those first two words underlined. “We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
This is how history is made in this White House. Not with a press conference or an Oval Office address, but with a post on the president’s own social media platform.
Mr Trump read the note before announcing he had to leave the room – AP
07:53am
Israel’s military says its preparing to pull back troops
The Israeli military said Thursday it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire deal to free the remaining hostages.
“The IDF has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement. As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are underway to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon,” the military said in a statement.
If phase one of the deal is approved by the Israeli government today, a ceasefire would immediately take effect and Israeli troops would withdraw to an agreed upon line – what the IDF referred to as “adjusted deployment lines”.
07:32am
‘More hope than we’ve had for a long time’, says Cabinet minister
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A senior Cabinet minister said the British Government had “more hope this morning than we’ve had for a long time”.
Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, told Times Radio: “We’re very hopeful and I think that’s a good word to use. If this holds and if this lasts it will be an enormous moment for the world.
“It would mean in the short term that the hostages, those alive and those dead would be released, it would also hopefully mean much more aid getting into Gaza to help the people there and in the longer term and this is probably the greatest prize of all a more stable future for Israel for Palestine and for the whole region.
“So of course people are tentative, people want to see exactly what will happen, but I think we’ve got more hope this morning than we’ve had for a long time.”
Asked if Donald Trump would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, Mr McFadden replied: “Well he will deserve credit. Nobel Prizes are a matter for the Nobel committee but he will deserve credit.”
07:21am
Pictured: Israelis celebrate the news in Tel Aviv
A person wearing a Donald Trump mask waves an Israeli flag as people in Tel Aviv celebrate Hamas agreeing to the first stage of the deal – REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
07:18am
‘I still don’t know what to think’, says Israeli minister
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Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs has expressed cautious optimism towards the deal.
Amichai Chikli told The Telegraph: “We have to wait and learn the details. I still don’t know what to think. Overall it looks good.”
07:11am
Israeli security cabinet meeting delayed
Israel’s security cabinet and government meetings to approve the first stage of the Gaza deal have been pushed back by two hours.
A source briefed on the details of the agreement told Reuters the meetings would take place at 5pm Israel time (3pm BST).
06:51am
Ceasefire to start when ‘deal signed at 10am’
A ceasefire is expected to come into effect in Gaza once the first stage of the US-led peace deal is signed, a source briefed on the details said.
The signing should take place at 12pm Israel time (10am BST), the source told Reuters.
Israel’s military will then finish its partial withdrawal from Gaza within the first 24 hours.
06:11am
Pictured: Families of hostages celebrate
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts at a gathering in Tel Aviv – Ronen Zvulun
Israelis gathered at at a plaza known as ‘the hostages square’ in Tel Aviv – Emilio Morenatti
Supporters of the hostages cheered at the news a deal had been reached – Ronen Zvulun
05:29am
Gazans cautiously optimistic
Palestinians living in Gaza expressed hope the deal between Israel and Hamas would end the war.
“All of the Gaza Strip is happy,” Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo told Reuters.
Another resident, Wael Radwan, credited Donald Trump and thanked “anyone who contributed even if verbally to stop the war and to stop the bloodshed”.
Khaled Shaa told Reuters it was an “historic” and “long-awaited” moment after years of bloodshed.
Palestinians celebrated in Khan Younis on Wednesday night – REUTERS
04:36am
Starmer: ‘This is a moment of profound relief’
The Prime Minister has welcomed the news that Hamas and Israel agreed to the first stage of the peace plan.
Sir Keir Starmer said it was “a moment of profound relief” that would be “felt all around the world” and particularly by “hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years”.
“I am grateful for the tireless diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye and the United States, supported by our regional partners, in securing this crucial first step,” Sir Keir said.
“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace.
“The UK will support these crucial immediate steps and the next stage of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan.”
03:32am
Israel’s warning to Gazans
The IDF has told displaced Palestinians that it would be “extremely dangerous” to return to Gaza City.
Avichay Adraee, the force’s Arab spokesman, wrote on X:
“The area north of Wadi Gaza [the river valley] is still considered a dangerous combat zone.
“IDF forces continue to surround Gaza City, and returning to it is extremely dangerous.
“For your own safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where IDF forces are deployed and operating throughout the Gaza Strip, including in the south and east, until official instructions are issued.”
03:07am
IDF ready ‘for any scenario’
Israeli soldiers have been told “to prepare with strong defence and to be ready for any scenario”.
“The forces’ preparations will be carried out in accordance with the directives of the political echelon and the stages of the agreement, with responsibility and safeguarding the security of our soldiers,” the Israeli Defence Forces said in a statement.
“At the same time, the Chief of the General Staff instructed to prepare for leading the operation to retrieve the hostages, expected to be carried out with sensitivity and professionalism.”
It also said the IDF “will continue to act to achieve the war’s objectives and to defend the citizens of the State of Israel on all fronts.”
01:59am
UN statement
Antonio Guterres, the United Nations secretary-general, welcomed the peace deal announcement and called on all parties to “abide fully” by its terms.
“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner,” Mr Guterres said.
“A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all.”
He stressed that the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies into the war-ravaged territory “must be ensured”.
01:50am
‘The peace president’
The White House has just posted this photograph of Donald Trump:
01:40am
End to Gaza war is in sight
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The war in Gaza finally looks as if it is coming to an end.
Israel and Hamas agreed on terms for a ceasefire and the release of hostages last night, the first part of Donald Trump’s 20 point plan for peace.
In the 72 hours from the point at which the deal is formally signed – expected at around midday Thursday – all the surviving Israeli hostages held in Gaza, thought to number 20, should be released, together with the bodies of others who have perished.
Israel will then start to release 250 convicted Palestinians held in Israeli jails, together with more than 1,000 others arrested and held since the Oct 7 massacre. At the same time Israeli troops will start to pull back.
The agreement – of which this is just the first part – is a major breakthrough and one that Trump has every right to be proud of.
It should almost immediately end the bloodshed in Gaza – which has been running to dozens of deaths a day – and see a return of hostages who have lived through hell.
It should also allow aid to start flooding into the strip, bringing desperately needed relief to the two million people sheltering amid the rubble there; people who are desperate for food, water, and medicine.
In the longer term, the deal should result in: a permanent end to the war, the disarmament of Hamas, the complete withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza, the rebuilding of the enclave under Palestinian authority and – eventually – new talks on Palestinian “self-determination and statehood”.
It is Trump’s personal guarantee that Israel will not be allowed to continue the fighting after its hostages have been released that has made the difference.
Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and other Arab states have clearly come to believe Trump’s promise is genuine, and have seemingly convinced Hamas of that too.
01:33am
Families of hostages express joy
Some of the relatives of the hostages held by Hamas in besieged Gaza are celebrating news that their loved ones could be returning home this week.
Maccabit Meir, whose nephews Gali and Ziv Berman have been in captivity since the Oct 7 2023 attacks on Israel, said “there is no happiness like this”.
“We were so afraid, and now I’m crying tears of happiness, not tears of fear,” she said in an interview with Israeli television.
Merav Gilboa-Dalal, the mother of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, said her main concern was that her son would return healthy.
“That’s what I wish for all of us,” she told Israeli media.
“And the experiences that they will have afterward will be amazing. Because we got him back again, a gift.”
It is believed that 20 of the 48 hostages remaining in Gaza are alive.
The White House posted on X: “ALL hostages to be released very soon!”
01:21am
Trump and Netanyahu have ‘emotional’ chat
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, had a “very warm and emotional” conversation with Donald Trump, his office said.
Mr Netanyahu also invited Mr Trump to address the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.
During a phone call on Wednesday, the leaders discussed the signing of the peace deal and “congratulated each other on the historic achievement”.
“The prime minister thanked President Trump for all his efforts and global leadership, and President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister on his determined leadership and the actions he led,” Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
01:15am
Trump will travel to Israel
Donald Trump is reportedly planning to visit Israel on Sunday.
Israeli TV station Channel 12 confirmed the president’s travel plans shortly after the announcement that Hamas had agreed to the first phase of the peace deal .
Earlier, the president said he would visit the Middle East.
01:02am
What is Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza?
Under Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, Hamas would have to disarm, relinquish power and release its remaining hostages.
You can read the full details, and the potential sticking points before a final peace deal can be struck, here.
12:59am
Netanyahu: This is a moral victory for Israel
Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed a “national and moral victory” for Israel after striking the “first phase” of a peace deal with Hamas.
The Israeli government will have to approve the agreement before Hamas releases its hostage, a US official told Axios.
“From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved,” Mr Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in a statement.
“Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point.
“I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages.”
12:53am
Hostage handover ‘expected by Monday’
A US official told Axios the first hostages would be released “72 hours” after the Israeli cabinet approves the Hamas deal.
Officials with the Hamas negotiating team in Egypt
With Benjamin Netanyahu convening his government on Thursday, it suggests the first hostage handover will not take place until Sunday at the earliest.
“The release is expected to happen by Monday,” the source added.
12:46am
Trump ‘reviewed Truth Social post with Witkoff and Kushner’
Donald Trump reportedly reviewed his Truth Social post announcing the agreement between Hamas and Israeli with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, before publishing it.
According to CNN, the US president had been on the phone in the Oval Office since he cut short a roundtable elsewhere in the White House earlier on Wednesday.
During a press briefing, Donald Trump was handed a note informing him that his staff needed him to approve a social media post – Evan Vucci
12:43am
Drama unfolded live on TV
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When it came, the announcement could not have been a better illustration of how this White House works.
The news was delivered not with a press conference or a sombre Oval Office address. It was done with a post on the president’s own Truth Social media platform.
And not just that. It was a post that had been trailed on live television. An AP photographer caught the text of a note handed to the president by Marco Rubio, Secretary of State.
“You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
12:39am
Hamas: Israel can’t delay on deal
Hamas has called on Donald Trump to ensure Israel enacts their agreement without delay.
The terror group said the US president and other mediating countries, in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, should compel it to “fully implement the agreement’s requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon”.
Negotiators embrace in Egypt ahead of Donald Trump’s announcement
Hamas said it agreed to the “first phase” proposal to end “the war of extermination against our Palestinian people and the occupation’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip”.
12:33am
Netanyahu to convene Israeli government to approve deal
Benjamin Netanyahu, hailing a “great deal for Israel”, has said he will summon his government to approve the deal with Hamas on Thursday.
“Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home,” the Israeli prime minister wrote on social media.
“I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces, thanks to whose courage and sacrifice we have reached this day.”
He also praised “from the depths of my heart” Donald Trump and his team for embarking on “this sacred mission of releasing our hostages”.
“With the help of the Almighty, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours,” he continued.
12:29am
Hamas disarmament and Gaza leadership still to be hashed out
Some issues still appear to be unresolved following the US president’s announcement that Israel and Hamas agreed to the “first phase” of his 20-point peace plan.
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the agreement signalled “the first steps towards a strong, durable and everlasting peace”.
However, some thorny issues remain.
Hamas has previously said it won’t disarm until a Palestinian state is recognised, and the terror group will be reluctant to disarm until a clearer picture of an independent Gaza emerges, if at all.
The governance of the region is also a sticking point. Mr Trump’s plan said an independent Palestinian police force would oversee the region, helped by the president’s International Stabilisation Force (ISF).
Not only will this be arduous, it’s not clear if all sides will agree.
In the plan, Hamas will “agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form”.
Yet when responding, the group said that Mr Trump’s plans for the future of the Strip could only be discussed by a “comprehensive Palestinian national framework” that should include the group.
12:25am
Reports: Hostages to be released on weekend
Israeli hostages will be released on either Saturday or Sunday, a source has told CNN. Earlier on Wednesday, Donald Trump suggested he would travel to the Middle East on Sunday.
12:23am
Qatar: Details will be revealed later
Details about the agreement struck between Hamas and Israel will be revealed later, a senior Qatari official has said.
Majed al-Ansari, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, said: “An agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid.”
“The details will be announced later,” he added.
In his statement announcing Israel and Hamas’ “first steps” towards peace, Donald Trump did not clarify potential sticking points in his proposed peace plan, which include Hamas disarming and leaving power.
12:21am
‘First phase’ deal follows days of negotiations
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Negotiators have been meeting in Egypt for days to hash out Donald Trump’s peace plan.
Wednesday began with leaks that Hamas was making difficult demands, including the return of the bodies of symbolic figures such as Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed, both former leaders of the terror group.
But by nightfall, the Times of Israel reported Arab sources as saying that mediators were planning an agreement that would entail an “immediate” release of hostages.
12:19am
A step towards peace, not peace itself
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Wednesday’s announcement by President Donald Trump marks a major step towards peace in Gaza. It represents a breakthrough on the path towards Mr Trump’s ambitious but deliberately vague 20-point plan to end decades of unrest.
It will bring home the hostages in exchange for prisoner releases.
But in so doing it uncouples one of the key elements of the plan, linking together an immediate ceasefire with a plan for stabilising and rebuilding Gaza, and creating conditions that could open a path towards a Palestinian state.
Already Hamas has called for international guarantees to hold Israel to its part of the deal.
This is A deal, and should be celebrated. But it is far from THE deal.
12:17am
Read Trump’s statement in full
Donald Trump has hailed the “first step” towards peace in the Middle East following negotiations between Israel and Hamas this week. Saying Hamas would release all of its Israeli hostages, the US president wrote on his Truth Social platform:
12:12am
Israelis agree to retreat
Israeli forces have agreed to withdraw troops to an agreed upon line, Donald Trump has said.
In Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan, a map showed lines that forces were expected to retreat to at various stages.
The first withdrawal, along with a hostage release, is depicted in purple.
It would mean the IDF withdrawing from Gaza City and other key strongholds, where Hamas is under heavy assault.
12:09am
Trump assumes role of peace-maker-in-chief
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Donald Trump, assuming the role of peace-maker-in-chief, was the first to announce the breakthrough.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our peace plan,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Earlier, Marco Rubio handed a note to the US president during a press conference asking him to urgently approve the social post so he could be the first to announce the deal.
“We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first,” the note read.
Marco Rubio whispered in Donald Trump’s ear and handed him a note – JIM WATSON
12:07am
Trump: I may travel to Middle East
On Wednesday, the US president said that he is considering travelling to the Middle East.
Mr Trump said: “I think I’ll probably go maybe before the hostages are released, or shortly thereafter, pretty much, shortly thereafter.”
12:03am
Hello and welcome to our live coverage
We’re bringing you the latest updates after Donald Trump announced Hamas and Israel have signed off on the “first phase” of a deal for peace in Gaza.
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