U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of their peace plan, which includes a pause in fighting and the release of part of the hostages and prisoners.
The agreement, reached after days of negotiations in Cairo mediated by Egypt and backed by the United States, seeks to end more than two years of war in Gaza. Trump called it “the first step toward a strong, lasting and everlasting peace.”
Israel and Hamas accept Trump’s peace deal
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan…. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/lAUxi1UPYh
– The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 8, 2025
“This means that all hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line as a first step towards a real peace,” the president wrote on his social network.
“All parties shall be treated fairly.”
A war that changed the global landscape
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that left around 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, and more than 250 people kidnapped.
Since then, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza has caused tens of thousands of deaths, massive displacement and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave.
According to the UN, more than 80% of Gaza’s inhabitants have been forced to leave their homes, and civilian infrastructure – hospitals, schools and electricity grids – are in ruins.
International organizations have warned of the risk of famine and the collapse of the health system.
What is included in the first phase of the agreement
Diplomatic sources in Egypt confirmed that the initial agreement envisages a truce lasting several days, the gradual release of Israeli hostages, and the simultaneous handing over of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
It also provides for the entry of humanitarian aid supervised by the United Nations and the temporary opening of safe corridors to evacuate wounded civilians.
Trump stressed that this is a “historic” step that seeks to restore stability in the Middle East, a region that has remained tense since the beginning of the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the announcement on his social networks:
“With God’s help, we will bring everyone back. This is the beginning of the end of suffering for many families.”
International reactions and next steps
Buzzy
Egypt and Qatar, two of the main mediators, expressed their support for the agreement and called on both parties to comply with the commitments of the first phase.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations warned that the truce will be fragile without progress towards a permanent ceasefire and a clear political roadmap.
The White House confirmed that representatives of Israel and Hamas will meet again in Cairo next week to discuss the terms of the “second phase”, which would seek to establish a total cessation of hostilities and define mechanisms for reconstruction in Gaza with international support.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has been one of the most divisive in the international community and also among Latinos in the U.S., where many view the issue with mixed feelings: solidarity for the victims on both sides and hope for a peace that seems increasingly urgent.
Estoy muy orgulloso de anunciar que Israel y Hamás han firmado la primera fase de nuestro Plan de Paz... ¡BENDITOS LOS CONSTRUCTORES DE PAZ!
Presidente Trump
Filed under: Israel-Hamas Peace Agreement
