Historical: Trump announces agreement between Israel and Hamas to initiate a peace plan and release hostages

Israel and Hamas signed an agreement that marks the beginning of a peace plan, with the release of hostages and the military withdrawal from key areas, President Donald Trump reported this Wednesday.

"I am proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of our Peace Plan," Trump wrote on his network Truth Social, announcing what he described as a historic and unprecedented event.

According to the U.S. president, the agreement includes the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas and a withdrawal of Israeli forces to a previously agreed-upon line, as part of a commitment to move toward a "strong, lasting, and eternal peace."

Trump also thanked the governments of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their role as mediators in the process.

"This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim world, for Israel, for all neighboring nations, and for the United States of America," he stated.

He ended his message with a biblical quote: "Blessed are the peacemakers," making it clear that the plan will continue with future stages to ensure regional stability.

Marco Rubio warned of the imminent agreement, and Trump plans to travel to the Middle East

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, interrupted President Donald Trump on Wednesday during a press conference to hand him a note warning that the agreement between Israel and Hamas to implement the peace plan in Gaza was "very close," reported the agency EFE.

"The Secretary of State just handed me a note stating that we are very close to reaching an agreement in the Middle East and that they will need me very soon," Trump expressed to the media while participating in a roundtable discussion on combating the antifascist movement.

Rubio handed a note to Attorney General Pam Bondi while she was speaking, and later approached her to whisper something in her ear. Press photos captured the written message, in which the secretary suggested posting soon on his Truth Social network to be the first to announce the deal.

During that same event, Trump revealed that he might travel to the Middle East on Sunday if the negotiations progressed as he expected.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas have been in Egypt since Monday negotiating with Egyptian, Qatari, and American mediators the terms for implementing the 20-point peace plan designed by Trump to end the war in Gaza.

The initial measures include the cessation of the Israeli offensive and the release within 72 hours of all hostages held by Hamas, whether alive or dead. The disarmament of the Islamist group, the complete withdrawal of Israel from the enclave, and the establishment of a transitional government in the Gaza Strip are also proposed.

Hamas, for its part, demands the release of 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 from Gaza, as confirmed to EFE by the press advisor of the group's political bureau, Taher Al Nono.

The president claimed to have a team of "excellent negotiators" in the region, led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his special envoy Steve Witkoff, and reiterated that the discussions are progressing "very well."

"We are in a beautiful phase, we hope it becomes a reality, but we are very close, they are doing very well," Trump said in statements to the press.

For his part, Marco Rubio stated that there has been "a lot of progress" towards an agreement and expressed himself as "optimistic," although he acknowledged that "there is still work to be done."

The signing of the initial agreement between Israel and Hamas, announced as a step toward peace in Gaza, is the result of a series of diplomatic movements led by the administration of President Donald Trump over the past few months.

Since the beginning of the year, Trump had already hinted at his intention that the United States would lead a solution for the conflict, even taking on an active role in Gaza's political future.

The most visible progress came when Trump publicly presented a 20-point peace plan that included a ceasefire, the release of hostages, the withdrawal of Israeli military forces, and a transitional government in the Strip.

Shortly after, Hamas responded positively with signs of willingness, which prompted the president to ask Israel to suspend its bombings over Gaza as a gesture of goodwill.

With negotiations underway, Hamas announced its willingness to release all Israeli hostages, whether alive or deceased, if a ceasefire was guaranteed.

That gesture was interpreted as a turning point. In response, Trump asked Netanyahu's government to halt the attacks, emphasizing that a real opportunity to achieve peace was emerging.

The American president expressed being “very optimistic” following Hamas's statements and, along with his team of advisors and negotiators, intensified contacts with key regional players such as Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.

In parallel, his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, traveled to Israel and issued a direct warning to Hamas, reaffirming that U.S. military support for the Israeli ally would depend on progress towards a negotiated solution.

Conversations finally yielded results when Hamas agreed to hand over its weapons under international supervision, in exchange for guarantees regarding the reconstruction of Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and Israel's commitment not to reoccupy the enclave.

Trump's announcement of the framework agreement thus marked the beginning of a new phase in one of the longest-running conflicts of the century.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Peace Agreement between Israel and Hamas Promoted by Trump