Donald Trump announces a historic Gaza peace deal between Israel and Hamas, marking the first step towards ending the war and freeing hostages
Donald Trump Gaza peace deal has marked a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough as the former U.S. President announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace framework designed to end the devastating Gaza war and secure the release of all hostages.
Also read: Donald Trump, Emmanuel Macron clash over Gaza, Palestinian statehood
Trump made the surprise announcement after receiving a handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a White House event, revealing that both sides had signed off on what he called a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”
“This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
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. Blessed are the peacemakers!”
According to White House officials, the framework—reached after marathon talks involving Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and U.S. mediators—will be implemented in stages.
The first phase will focus on the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, alongside a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access.
Israeli sources told CNN that the hostages could return home as early as this weekend.
Following Trump’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his cabinet would meet on Thursday to ratify the agreement, describing it as “a great day for Israel.”
He vowed, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
Diplomatic sources revealed that the final push came during a high-level meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, attended by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and intelligence chiefs from Egypt, Turkey, and Israel.
Throughout Wednesday, reports of progress intensified, culminating in Rubio slipping a note to Trump indicating that the deal was imminent.
A Qatari official later confirmed that all provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase had been finalised, paving the way for an end to hostilities, the release of detainees, and the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In a rare conciliatory statement, Hamas expressed gratitude to Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their mediation efforts and specifically thanked Trump for his role in brokering the deal.
“We value the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump, who seeks to bring about a definitive end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation from Gaza,” Hamas said.
However, the group urged mediators to ensure Israel “fully implements the agreement’s requirements” without delay.
While Trump hailed the development as “the first steps toward a lasting peace,” he acknowledged that more complex issues—including Hamas’ disarmament and Gaza’s future governance—would be tackled in later negotiations.
Under Israeli law, the agreement must now be approved by the cabinet, after which a short legal review window will precede the release of prisoners and hostages.
Also read: Donald Trump UK state visit protest draws thousands
If fully implemented, the Donald Trump Gaza peace deal could mark a turning point in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts—potentially redefining both regional diplomacy and Trump’s legacy as a peacemaker.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
