Israel, Hamas Peace Plan Deal Highlights: Israel approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal

Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in northern Gaza's Khan Younis said after the announcement of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, "Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing."

"I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed," he added.

Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is one of the last hostages, also expressed her happiness and said, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't explain what I'm feeling ... it's crazy."

"What do I say to him? What do I do? Hug and kiss him," she said, adding that, "Just tell him that I love him, that's it. And to see his eyes sink into mine ... It's overwhelming — this is the relief."

Turkish President Erdogan said on Thursday that his country will take part in efforts to "monitor Gaza ceasefire".

Every day, a minimum of 400 aid trucks will enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire, and will eventually be increased in the following days, AFP reported, citing a Hamas source.

It also provides for the "return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north immediately," the source added.

A key point in the negotiations for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was a list of Palestinian prisoners submitted by the militant group.

Hamas said that it wants these prisoners released from Israeli jails in the first phase of the peace plan.

The prisoners' list includes high-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti, from the Fatah movement, according to Egyptian state media.

Barghouti was sentenced to life in 2004 on murder charges and is considered a terrorist by Israel. He has often topped opinion polls of popular Palestinian leaders and is sometimes described by his supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela".

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said that Israel has an "interest in expanding the circle of peace and normalisation in the region".

Senior Turkish officials said that Turkey will take part in the joint task force to locate bodies of hostages in Gaza, along with the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

She said, "I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by @POTUS. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye in achieving this breakthrough."

She acknowledged the role of regional actors and added, "Am also encouraged by the support of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Now, all parties must fully uphold the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end."

"The EU will continue to support the swift and safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And when the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction," she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

"Great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region. I welcome the agreement reached overnight for the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza, and I commend the efforts of President @realDonaldTrump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators who helped make it happen," Macron said in a post on X.

The Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the largest independent aid groups working in Gaza, said US President Donald Trump's plan to increase aid to starving people as part of a ceasefire will fail unless all aid groups can resume operations.

"The desperation is deeper and the exhaustion is greater than anyone can imagine inside Gaza...It's not enough with some U.N. agencies and some few NGOs," Jan Egeland, NRC head, told Reuters.

"If not, the Trump peace plan will not succeed...We don't have time for more bureaucratic obstacles," Jan added.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and termed it a "huge relief", saying that it was ready to flood Gaza with the much-needed food supply.

"UNRWA has food, medicines and other basic supplies to go to Gaza. We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months," agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

While hopes of an end to the war have risen, crucial details of the peace plan are yet to be spelt out, including the timing, a post-war administration for Gaza and Hamas's fate.

There is no clear indication who will rule Gaza when the war ends. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump, Western and Arab states have all ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.

Trump's original plan for Gaza envisions a role for the Palestinian Authority but only after it undergoes major reforms.

(with Reuters inputs)

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on 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," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

• US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Hamas signed off on the first phase of the peace plan brought by his administration. He said that all the hostages held in Gaza will be released very soon.
• Under the peace plan, Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.
• All the hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned to Israel within 72 hours of Jerusalem publicly accepting the ceasefire agreement.
• Despite the announcement of a ceasefire plan, the Gaza civil defence agency reported that several strikes hit the territory, particularly in areas of northern Gaza.
• Trump is likely to visit Israel this week following a breakthrough in the ceasefire in Gaza. He said that he may address the Knesset during his probable visit.
• Palestinians rejoiced at the Gaza ceasefire plan, cheered, clapped and danced.
• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Thursday said that an agreement to secure the release of hostages in Gaza will take effect only after the cabinet approves it.

Israel's cabinet will meet on Thursday at 15:00 GMT (8:30 PM IST) to discuss a plan to secure the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, a government statement said hours after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

"Government meeting at 18:00 (1500 GMT). Agenda - Plan for the release of all Israeli hostages," an announcement posted on the government website said.

Overnight, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would be convening a cabin meeting on Thursday to approve a plan for the release of hostages.

While the Gaza ceasefire agreement is in effect, a hostage deal will be finalised after Israel votes in its Parliament.

The White House said that within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.

Egypt's foreign ministry on Thursday lauded the "recent positive developments in Sharm El-Sheikh, which represent a pivotal moment in the war in Gaza", hours after a peace plan deal was announced between Israel and Hamas.

The statement further said that foreign minister Badr Abdelatty would travel to Paris on Thursday for a ministerial meeting to "discuss arrangements for the situation in the Gaza Strip".

The Gaza ceasefire has come into effect hours after a peace plan deal was announced between Israel and Hamas.

Russia supports the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the settlement of the conflict in Gaza, Interfax reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry on Thursday said that it welcomed the agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war and the launch of the first phase of US President Donald Trump's proposal.

It said that the agreement marks an important step towards achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

The release of 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza is expected on Sunday or Monday, news agency Reuters reported, citing an Israeli official.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was a “big step towards lasting peace.”

“WHO stands ready to scale up its work to meet the dire health needs of patients across Gaza, and to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system,” the WHO chief said on X.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the ceasefire agreement was “great hope for hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region.”

“I welcome the agreement reached overnight for the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza, and I commend the efforts of President @realDonaldTrump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators who helped make it happen,” Macron said.

The French President urged all parties to strictly uphold its terms, adding that the agreement must mark the end of war and “beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.”

According to a report by Reuters news agency, hostages may be released as early as Saturday. US President Donald Trump had told Fox News earlier that hostages were likely to be released on Monday.

However, citing a source briefed on details of the ceasefire agreement, Reuters reported that the hostages could be released Saturday, and that the Israeli military would completed the first part of partial withdrawal from the territory within 24 hours of the deal being sealed.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Gaza ceasefire “marks the beginning of a just and lasting peace.” He further said that now it was time to “engage in dialogue, to support the civilian population, and to look to the future with hope.” “But also with justice and with remembrance, so that the atrocities experienced are never repeated,” Sanchez added.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas welcomed the Gaza ceasefire agreement, while saying he hoped it could lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Abbas further expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution “leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state”, AFP reported.