In a dramatic turn for Middle East diplomacy, US President Donald Trump announced on October 8, 2025, that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan aimed at ending the two-year-old war in Gaza. Speaking from the White House, Trump declared that a deal was “very close,” and hinted he may travel to the region as soon as this weekend to help finalize the agreement. The announcement follows days of intense negotiations in Egypt, with mediators from the US, Qatar, and Turkey joining the talks in a bid to broker what Trump called a “historic and unprecedented” ceasefire.
“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 stated on his Truth Social platform, as reported by The Independent. He added, “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.”
The peace plan, unveiled by Trump’s team and hammered out in indirect talks between Hamas and Israeli officials in Egypt, centers on a 20-point proposal. Key provisions include a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of all hostages held in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. According to France 24, the US, Qatar, and Turkey joined the third day of talks in Cairo, reflecting the broad international push behind the effort.
During a White House event, Trump revealed he had just come off the phone with officials in the Middle East, where his special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner were participating in negotiations. “'Peace for the Middle East,' that's a beautiful phrase, and we hope it's going to come true, but it's very close, and they're doing very well,” Trump told reporters. “We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and they're, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it's something I think that will happen.”
The president’s involvement reached a fever pitch when Secretary of State Marco Rubio entered the room mid-event, handing Trump a handwritten note. According to The Independent, the note read: “We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.” Trump relayed to those present, “I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly. I have to go now to try and solve some problems in the Middle East.”
Asked by reporters if he would consider visiting Gaza should the deal be finalized, Trump replied, “I would, yeah. I would. I might do that. I may do that. We haven't decided exactly.” He emphasized that the release of hostages held by Hamas would be a prerequisite for any trip to the region. “Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well. So we'll let you know, if that's the case, we'll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe on Saturday,” Trump explained, according to AFP.
The optimism surrounding the talks was echoed by other key players. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi described receiving “encouraging” signs and praised Trump’s support. A spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry confirmed that “an agreement was reached on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid. The details will be announced later,” as reported by The Independent.
Hamas, for its part, expressed “optimism” over the indirect discussions with Israel. Senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou confirmed that both sides had exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages to be released as part of the potential agreement. Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas’ Gaza chief, was reported to be meeting with Egypt’s intelligence head to finalize the accord, with an announcement anticipated as early as Thursday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to news of the agreement, stated, “With God's help we will bring them all home,” referring to the hostages. The sense of hope was echoed by those most affected by the conflict. Emily Hand, a ten-year-old girl who survived being taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks, told The Sun, “I know what it’s like to be a hostage in Gaza and want everyone to come home and I want peace. I’ve never lived in peace in my life. I want to know what it’s like.” Hand, a dual Irish-Israeli national, was among 17 hostages freed in November 2023 under a previous agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The path to this tentative peace has been fraught with tragedy and complexity. The war in Gaza, which erupted two years ago, has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 250 hostages, marked a grim turning point. The ensuing conflict has seen repeated cycles of violence, failed ceasefires, and mounting humanitarian crises.
Trump’s plan, while ambitious, faces significant challenges. The requirement for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw from Gaza will test the resolve of both sides and the capacity of mediators to enforce the terms. However, the unprecedented involvement of regional and international actors—including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States—has injected new momentum into the process.
The broader regional implications are profound. Trump has characterized the agreement as a “GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America.” The deal, if fully implemented, could reshape alliances and alter the balance of power in the region. It also raises questions about the future of Palestinian governance in Gaza, the prospects for long-term stability, and the potential for broader Israeli-Arab normalization.
For now, much hinges on the successful execution of the first phase: the immediate release of hostages, the start of an Israeli withdrawal, and the delivery of humanitarian aid. As the world watches, the coming days will reveal whether this “historic and unprecedented” agreement can withstand the pressures of reality—or whether, as so often before, hope will give way to disappointment.
As final details are ironed out and leaders prepare for possible historic visits, the people of Gaza and Israel—and indeed, much of the world—wait anxiously to see whether this long-sought peace will finally take root.