Israel
Israel and Hamas agree peace deal to end Gaza War
Latest reports suggest that the remaining living hostages could return on Saturday
October 9, 2025 06:10
Latest reports suggest that the remaining living hostages could return on Saturday
October 9, 2025 06:10Israel and Hamas have both agreed a US-backed peace deal, ending the Gaza War and ensuring the imminent return of the remaining hostages, President Trump announced last night.
Trump confirmed that the two sides had signed up to the "first phase" of his "comprehensive" plan for "eternal peace".
"This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw [its] troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable and everlasting peace," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The deal, if fully implemented, also finally marks the end of the war, two years and a day after it started with the October 7 massacres.
Trump hailed the agreement as a "great day for the world".
"The whole world has come together on this one, Israel, every country has come together. This has been a fantastic day… a wonderful day for everybody," he added.
Trump later told Fox News that Hamas is expected to return all of its remaining hostages, living and dead, by Monday, October 13.
Latest reports suggest that the living captives could be home as early as Saturday, without the sort of provocative ceremonies used for previous releases, but that the remains of the deceased may take longer to recover.
They will be exchanged for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, though it is not clear whether some of those serving multiple life sentences that the terror group had requested be released are on the list.
Two sources reportedly told the Times of Israel that a formal signing of the deal is tentatively set for midday today, with all the major rifts between the two sides settled.
Elsewhere, Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that he will convene his cabinet later today to ratify the deal.
It could face opposition from far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who have openly threatened to withdraw from the coalition if the deal does not meet terms, including allowing Israel to restart the war if Hamas fails to disarm.
But the agreement has been welcomed by hostage families and opposition leaders, the latter of whom should be sufficient to push the deal through the Knesset if required.
Netanyahu called the plan "a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel", while his office confirmed he had held a "very emotional and warm conversation" with Trump, whom he invited to visit Israel and address the Knesset this weekend.
Trump concluded: "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."
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