Trump says Hamas & Israel have FINALLY agreed deal to release Oct 7 hostages

ISRAEL and Hamas have finally shaken hands on a ceasefire, putting a halt to the brutal war after 15 months, says Donald Trump.

The world had been waiting with bated breath as negotiators hammered out the deal, which is believed to have been confirmed today.

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Israel and Hamas have agreed on a peace deal on TuesdayCredit: Reuters

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is likely to accept the peace dealCredit: AP

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About 33 hostages are expected to be freedCredit: Reuters

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The ceasefire deal could mark the start of the end of the conflict in the Middle EastCredit: EPA

Hopes for a ceasefire plan, brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, had been in the works for over a year, with numerous rumours surrounding a resolution in the past 24 hours.

The ceasefire now sparks hope that the remaining hostages taken on the horror October 7 bloodbath will finally return home to their families after months of agony.

Hamas previously accepted a draft agreement for a peace deal in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages.

And newly-elected President Donald Trump said “there had been a handshake”, fuelling positive expectations of a peace deal.

Read more on Israel and Hamas

He has now posted on Truth Social appearing to confirm the deal saying: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

It is also understood that Qatar’s Prime Minister met with Hamas in what a source involved in the talks called a “final push” for the truce.

The agreed plan is now expected to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet and then his full Cabinet.

Both are dominated by Netanyahu’s allies and are likely to approve any proposal he presents.

THREE-PHASE AGREEMENT

The ceasefire is built around a three-phase plan that aims to address both the hostage crisis and the broader humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase that includes gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to north Gaza, says an official briefed on the agreement.

It will require 600 truckloads of humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza every day of ceasefire, 50 of them carrying fuel, with 300 of the trucks allocated to north.

The first phase will focus on the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The hostages released in the initial phase are reportedly in critical condition, including one-year-old Kfir Bibas, the youngest Israeli captive.

My daughter is the only British hostage left in Gaza – she’s been imprisoned for 425 days & I fear she will starve to death

During this phase, Israeli forces will withdraw from population centers in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to what remains of their homes.

Humanitarian aid is expected to flood the region, with 600 trucks of supplies entering Gaza daily.

The second phase will see Hamas release the remaining hostages, primarily male soldiers, in exchange for further prisoner releases and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

In the third and final phase, the bodies of hostages who did not survive captivity will be returned to their families.

In exchange, Gaza would receive a three- to five-year reconstruction plan overseen by international authorities.

Despite optimism from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said the deal was “right on the brink,” last-minute disagreements have delayed final implementation.

A key sticking point is the timeline for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, with mediators still working to finalise the terms.

“The ball is now in Hamas’s court,” Blinken remarked on Tuesday, emphasizing the urgency of reaching an agreement.

The ceasefire marks a potential turning point in a conflict that has devastated the region.

On October 7, Hamas militants launched a surprise attack, killing over 1,200 Israelis—mostly civilians—and abducting 250 people.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, with over half the casualties reported to be women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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What happened on October 7?

ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.

Terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly.

The coordinated assault saw heavily armed fighters infiltrate Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.

Innocent families were slaughtered in their homes, and graphic footage of the atrocities spread across social media, leaving the world in shock.

The massacre triggered a swift and massive retaliatory response from Israel, escalating into a full-scale war.

The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 15 months of devastation that followed.

Image Credits and Reference: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/32819377/israel-hamas-gaza-palestine-ceasefire-war-peace-deal/

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