Trump says ‘everlasting peace’ will come as Israel and Hamas sign off | World | News

Donald Trump promised “everlasting peace” in the Middle East after announcing an extraordinary deal to end the war in Gaza. The US President said the “first phase” of his peace plan to end the conflict in Gaza had been signed. It includes a plan to pause fighting and release hostages and prisoners.

The initial agreement was confirmed by Israeli officials and Hamas, as well as mediator Qatar.

Announcing the deal to the world, he said: “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!”

The announcement sparked scenes of wild celebrations in Gaza, which has been reduced to rubble and ruins.

The White House said it expects the first hostages to be released Monday, a day after triumphant President Trump is due to visit the Middle East to formally endorse the peace treaty.

The agreement comes almost two years to the day after Hamas terrorists launched a murder spree in Israel that saw 1,200 innocent civilians slaughtered and 251 taken as hostages. In response, Israel launched a war it said was aimed at the destruction of Hamas. According to the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health 67,183 people have been killed in Gaza.

President Donald Trump said: “The whole world came together, to be honest. The world has come together around this deal.

“It’s been really an amazing period of time. So great for Israel, so great for Muslims and the Arab countries.”

The Hostages Families Forum expressed “profound gratitude to President Trump” for an “historic breakthrough”.

The mother of Matan Zangauker – one of the 48 Israeli hostages being held in Gaza – posted on X, formerly Twitter, about her son’s potential return.

Einav Zangauker said: “Matan returns home to me, to (his sisters) Natalie and Shani, to (his partner) Ilana, the love of his life. To you, to the country, I prayed for these tears.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the “heart of Israel beats as one with the hostages and their families” in a separate post on X.

He also added a quote from the prophet Jeremiah saying: “They shall return from the land of the enemy…and children shall return to their borders.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the deal “a big day for Israel”.

Israel’s Security Cabinet will meet before approval is given to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.

Hamas said it is waiting for final approval of the prisoner list and called on the US and other mediators to ensure Israel implements the deal “without disavowal or delay”.

This is the third ceasefire since the start of the Gaza-Israel war two years ago but has much wider ramifications.

According to President Trump the deal was made possible after the US neutered Iran’s nuclear capability in a “bunker bomb” blitz that destroyed its weapons of mass destruction.

He claimed Iran was a month away from being able to launch nuclear weapons.

President Trump said: “If I allowed that to happen, this deal would not have been possible. Or if it was, it would have a tremendous cloud over it, because you’d have a country with a nuclear weapon that was not obviously very friendly. I believe Iran is going to be involved in the peace situation.”

The deal will see Israeli troops withdraw from the vast majority of Gaza behind a proposed line in the coming days, as well as the reopening of aid corridors into Gaza.