Donald Trump announces breakthrough in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks

Sharm el Sheikh (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Israel and Hamas have reached an initial agreement on a US-mediated ceasefire plan that facilitates the quick release of all hostages in Gaza, Israel’s withdrawal to an agreed location, and the release of certain Palestinian prisoners.

US President Donald Trump initially announced the breakthrough via social media, stating that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire. The arrangement was met with celebration in Gaza and Israel.

Netanyahu and Trump had a phone call where they congratulated each other on a “historic achievement.” During the call, the Israeli prime minister also invited the US president to speak before Israel’s parliament, as stated by Netanyahu’s office.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, in a post on X, described the deal as a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory” for Israel. He also thanked Trump “for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages.”

With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.

From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals…

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) October 8, 2025

Qatar, a fundamental mediator in the ceasefire talks, confirmed the development, stating that an agreement has been finalised on “all the provisions and implementation mechanisms” of the initial phase of the ceasefire plan.

Hamas publicly announced that it has reached an agreement that includes ending the war in Gaza, withdrawing the occupation, allowing aid to enter, and conducting a prisoner exchange. Hamas expressed gratitude to Trump and all mediators, including Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.

How is the Israeli military preparing for troop withdrawal?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the deal as a “diplomatic success and a national and moral victory” for Israel.  Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza after a deal to free the remaining hostages.

“The IDF has begun operational preparations ahead of the implementation of the agreement. As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are underway to transition to adjusted deployment lines soon,” the military stated in a statement.

What does Mahmoud Abbas expect from the ceasefire agreement?

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the Gaza agreement, expressing hope that it would serve as a precursor to achieving a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

He praised the efforts of Trump and all mediators—Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye—and conveyed the Palestinian Authority’s willingness to collaborate with them to achieve successful results, the agency reported.

How did negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh lead to progress?

In early October 2025, discussions on a Gaza ceasefire first surfaced in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. These involved indirect discussions by Israel and Hamas aimed at ending the fighting in Gaza that had been escalating over the previous two years. The talks were organised around President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. 

The talks only included senior negotiators and mediators from the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Some of the individuals present were Jared Kushner, the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Qatar’s prime minister, and Turkey’s intelligence chief.

Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, announced in September 2025, is a comprehensive proposal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. The plan includes an immediate ceasefire, the return and release of all Israeli hostages, the demilitarisation of Gaza, the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities, and the establishment of a transitional governance structure led by Palestinian technocrats with international supervision.