President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of the Gaza peace plan under which the Palestinian group will release all hostages and Israel will release Palestinian prisoners, and its troops will withdraw to an agreed upon line.
Earlier, Trump indicated that he might travel to the Middle East this weekend as his administration works to finalize a hostages-for-ceasefire deal in Gaza.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. 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,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The U.S. president also pledged fair treatment for all parties.
“All Parties will be treated fairly! 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!”
Peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Gaza entered their third day on Wednesday in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, with high-level participation signaling a push to resolve the conflict’s most difficult issues.
“I was just dealing with people from the Middle East on the potential peace deal for the Middle East. ‘Peace for the Middle East.’ That’s a beautiful phrase,” Trump noted.
He indicated that a visit could happen “sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday.”
.@POTUS: “I was just dealing with people from the Middle East… on the potential peace deal… it’s something I think that will happen — got a good chance of happening. I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually.” pic.twitter.com/szAzxxBZNC
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 8, 2025
“The negotiations are going along well, dealing with Hamas and many of the countries… Nothing like that has happened before,” he said at the White House.
“If that’s the case, we’ll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe Saturday, maybe a little later than Saturday evening, but that seems to be our schedule,” he said about the prospects of a visit happening corresponding outcome of the intensified negotiations.
The talks in Egypt included top U.S. Middle East adviser Steve Witkoff, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Ron Dermer, senior aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Officials from Türkiye also arrived in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort for a third day of indirect talks on Wednesday between Israeli and Hamas representatives.
Hamas agrees to US Gaza ceasefire plan, release hostages, wants talks on some parts
Their presence reflects growing momentum behind a U.S.-backed proposal to end the two-year war between Israel and Hamas. President Donald Trump unveiled a 20-point plan last week to end the war after meetings with leaders of Islamic countries and Israel.
The Times of Israel reported that mediators are aim for an agreement to be signed in a day between Israel and Hamas.
The agreement seeks to see immediate release of remaining living hostages in exchange for a Gaza ceasefire, an Arab diplomat and a second source told The Times of Israel.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the peace plan remains incomplete, with major sticking points still under negotiation. These include Hamas’s disarmament, the timetable and scope of Israel’s military withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of an international authority to govern Gaza post-Hamas, an AP reported.
Trump: Israel agrees to Gaza initial withdrawal line, ceasefire to begin when Hamas confirms
Hamas has reportedly demanded strong guarantees from mediators to ensure that Israel will not resume military operations once hostages are released.
The group has also submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants freed in exchange for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.
Representatives from other Palestinian factions, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, are also participating or expected to join. Their involvement signals an effort to make the talks more inclusive of all Palestinian voices.
Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high. A deadly incident at a Gaza aid distribution site operated by an Israeli-affiliated group resulted in the deaths of 20 Palestinians, further highlighting the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and humanitarian resolution.
Trump holds talks with leaders of Islamic countries on ending Gaza war
The World Health Organization Wednesday said rebuilding the devastated health system is critical to securing lasting peace and stability. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said Gaza’s health services had been “shattered” after two years of conflict and “on the brink of total collapse.”
“When the fighting stops, a new struggle will begin – to rebuild Gaza’s health system and rescue an entire population from the edge of famine and despair,” she told reporters.
WHO estimates that reconstruction would cost over $7 billion, covering humanitarian response, early recovery and long-term rebuilding.
“Rebuilding Gaza’s health system will not only save lives today; it will restore dignity, stability and hope for the future,” Dr. Balkhy said.
Two years since the war erupted, the humanitarian toll remains staggering.
According to Dr. Balkhy said more than half a million are “trapped in famine-like conditions,” while another million are severely food-insecure. Since January, 455 people – including 151 children, mostly under five – have died from malnutrition, according to Palestinian health authorities.
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Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
