Trump Announces Israel and Hamas Sign ‘First Phase’ of Peace Agreement
US President hails ‘historic’ breakthrough as both sides agree on initial steps including hostage release and troop withdrawal.
Washington DC [US], Oct 9: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and Hamas have “signed off on the first phase” of a long-awaited peace plan, marking what he described as a “historic and unprecedented event.”
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the agreement’s initial stage includes the release of all hostages and Israeli troop withdrawal to an agreed line, calling it the first step toward a “strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” Trump stated, expressing gratitude to Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their mediation efforts.
According to the White House, Trump is scheduled for a “routine yearly check-up” at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, and may travel to the Middle East shortly afterward to support ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya met with Egypt’s intelligence head to finalize details of what officials have described as a “historic Gaza agreement,” according to Al Jazeera. Sources said a formal announcement could be made soon.
In contrast, Palestine’s representative to the United Nations accused Israel of continuing a “genocidal war” in Gaza in a letter to the UN Security Council (UNSC). The letter condemned Israel’s “collective punishment” and “colonisation” of Palestinian territories, warning that devastation had reached “unprecedented levels.”
According to the statement, the conflict has caused over 2,37,000 Palestinian casualties in Gaza since October 2023, with widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure. The letter urged immediate international action to halt the violence.
