Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of the peace deal two years after the war in Gaza started, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night.
The deal allows the release of the remaining Israeli hostages, both dead and alive.
“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. All Parties will be treated fairly!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he added.
The announcement comes hours after Trump revealed during a White House roundtable that a deal between Israel and Hamas was “very close” after Secretary of State Marco Rubio whispered the news into the president’s ear and gave him a note.
The note, as seen in a photo captured by the Associated Press, read, “Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.”
TRUMP SAYS PEACE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS ‘VERY CLOSE,’ MAY TRAVEL TO MIDDLE EAST
The news comes one day after the two-year anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
It also comes two days before the Nobel Peace Prize is announced. Trump is under consideration for the award.
