Hamas Accepts Trump Peace Plan Ending War and Releasing Hostages

In a historic turning point, Hamas has officially accepted U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the two-year war in Gaza and release all remaining hostages, including 48 Israeli captives. The announcement came Wednesday, nearly two years to the day after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 massacre, which killed over 1,200 Israelis and triggered the deadliest conflict in the region since the Second Intifada.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”

Photos from the negotiation room in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, showed Israeli and Qatari officials shaking hands, with Hamas leaders smiling as the deal neared finalization. A formal signing ceremony is expected Thursday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the agreement, declaring, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.” He praised the “heroic soldiers of the IDF” and thanked President Trump and his team for “mobilizing for this sacred mission.” Netanyahu also invited Trump to address the Israeli Knesset.

In its official statement, Hamas said it had “reached an agreement that ends the war on Gaza, provides for the withdrawal of the occupation, allows the entry of aid and implements a prisoner exchange,” thanking Trump and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. The group urged international parties to ensure Israel’s compliance.

According to the agreement, all living hostages 21 of the original 48 are to be released within 72 hours. Deceased hostages’ remains will follow, although Hamas claims some are buried in areas outside its control. In return, Israel will release 250 prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans arrested since October 7.

Under Trump’s 20-point blueprint, the war ends with a phased Israeli withdrawal, followed by the creation of a technocratic Palestinian transitional government in Gaza. A “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, will oversee the strip’s reconstruction with backing from Arab states and international partners.

While the plan does not explicitly create a Palestinian state, it halts any Israeli annexation of Gaza and encourages residents to “stay and build a better Gaza.” It also offers amnesty for disarmed Hamas fighters.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum responded with deep gratitude. “Our moral and national commitment is to bring them all home,” the group said. “Their return is a condition for the rehabilitation and revival of Israeli society as a whole.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the deal as a “blessing,” crediting the courage of IDF soldiers and expressing hope that “the nation will soon embrace its heroes.” The IDF echoed this sentiment, calling the deal’s signing a welcome step.

The peace plan has gained rare and widespread regional support, with leaders from Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia backing the framework. International reactions have also begun to pour in as the world watches what may become a defining moment in Middle East diplomacy.

For Israel, the agreement marks not only the return of its citizens but a national reckoning and potential pivot toward a new era. After two years of anguish, war, and loss, the hope of a better tomorrow has finally taken root.

Celebrate this milestone and support Israel’s continued strength. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter for updates as hostages return and peace efforts move forward.