President Donald Trump has announced that Hamas and Israel have agreed to the first phase of a peace deal that will bring an end to the war in Gaza. In its initial phase, the deal will see Israel’s gradual military withdrawal from the Palestinian territory, as well as Hamas returning all living and dead hostages still in Gaza. It is thought that 48 hostages remain, 20 of whom are thought to still be alive.
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In return, Israel is set to release around 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in prison, plus an additional 1,700 Gazans detained after the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war.
“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,” said Trump on Truth Social.
The Israel government is set to meet on Thursday, to agree to the deal formally, after which a cease-fire is set to begin.
Aid into Gaza is set to resume at much higher levels than has entered in recent months, with 400 trucks daily expected to enter the Strip once the truce begins.
Over two years of war has seen widespread destruction in Gaza, as well as a famine and the collapse of critical medical, water and electrical infrastructure.
Over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack in Israel killing around 1,200 people and taking another 250 hostage.
In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. The Israeli army’s own casualty figures suggest a Palestinian civilian death rate of 83%.
Here’s how world leaders, as well as those within Gaza and Israel, have reacted to the first phase agreement to end the war.
Palestinian Territories
Within the war-stricken enclave, news of the agreement was met with widespread celebration early on Thursday morning. Journalist Saeed Mohammed shared a video of crowds gathered in the street chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is great), whistling and clapping in celebration.
Hamas said the group values “the efforts of US President Donald Trump, who seeks to bring about a definitive end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip,” also thanking mediators from Turkey, Qatar and Egypt.
“We call on President Trump, the guarantor countries, and various Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement the agreement’s requirements and not allow it to evade or delay the implementation of what has been agreed upon,” the statement continued.
Palestinian Vice-President Hussein Al-Sheikh of the Palestinian Authority also welcomed the deal, citing the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the increased flow of aid into Gaza.
Al-Sheik said he is “hoping that this will constitute a step toward security, stability, and peace within the framework of a political process that leads to the implementation of the two-state solution,” in a statement on X.
Israel
Large crowds gathered in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, on Thursday to celebrate the deal, waving U.S. and Israeli flags, in pictures shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Attendees to the celebrations were seen pouring out drinks, dancing and cheering in reaction to the deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Wednesday’s agreement marked “A great day for Israel,” in a statement. “I will convene the government tomorrow in order to approve the agreement, and return all our dear hostages home,” he said on X.
“God willing, we will continue together in order to achieve all our aims and expand the peace with our neighbours,” Netanyahu continued, with his Office adding that himself and Trump had a “very warm and emotional conversation” after the agreement was reached “congratulating each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement for the release of all the hostages.”
Leader of the opposition party, Yair Lapid, congratulated Trump on the deal, saying that “there is no person who deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than him,” in a statement released Thursday.
He also congratulated Netanyahu, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the families of the hostages. “In these two difficult years, this is a moment of great light in the darkness. Return in peace, angels of peace,” said Lapid.
Far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, who will meet later with Netanyahu as part of the cabinet to approve the deal, said he was feeling “mixed emotions” and said he would not back the deal.
“Immense joy for the return of all our abducted brothers!” said Smotrich on X Thursday, adding his “great fear of the consequences of emptying [Israeli] prisons…For this reason alone, we cannot join the short-sighted celebrations and vote in favor of the deal.”
Australia
“After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday.
“We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan,” the statement read, adding that Australia supports the “plan’s commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza” and the country will continue to “contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution.”
Canada
Prime Minister Mark Carney congratulated Trump, as well as mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey on the agreement.
“I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families. After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable. Canada calls on all parties to swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace,” he said on X.
China
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that “China hopes that a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza will be realized as early as possible, the humanitarian crisis will be effectively eased, and tensions in the region will be diffused,” during a press conference Thursday.
“We stand ready to work with the international community to make unremitting effort towards an early, full, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question,” said Jiakun, adding that China supports the implementation of a two-state solution.
Egypt
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that “The world is witnessing a historic moment that embodies the triumph of the will for peace over the logic of war,” in response to the agreement.
“This agreement does not only close the chapter of war; it also opens the door of hope for the peoples of the region for a future defined by justice and stability,” the statement published Thursday read.
Egypt hosted the negotiations between Israel and Hamas and also mediated the talks alongside Turkey and Qatar in Sharm El Sheikh.
France
President Emmanuel Macron has also welcomed the agreement, calling on all parties to “strictly” uphold its terms.
Great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region,” said Macron Thursday morning.
“This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with our international partners,” he continued in a statement on X.
Germany
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called the agreements on the plan’s first phase “encouraging” adding that “They offer new hope – for the hostages and their families, for the people in Gaza, and for the entire region,” in a statement Thursday.
“For the first time in a long while, there is a real prospect of peace in the region. We call on all parties to keep their promises, end the war, and pave the way for lasting peace. Germany will continue to firmly support this process,” said Merz.
Qatar
State Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi said that “The new phase of the agreement offers hope for lasting calm in Gaza and highlights the power of joint mediation grounded in reason, not escalation,” in response to the announcement Wednesday.
Qatar has been a key mediator during previous talks between Israel and Hamas on prior cease-fire agreements. Most recently, Hamas offices in Qatar were bombed in an Israel attack, and negotiations have not been held in the Gulf state since.
Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he is “greatly pleased” with the agreement, noting his country’s involvement and thanking Trump for the deal.
Erdoğan said that Turkey “will closely monitor the meticulous implementation of the agreement and continue to contribute to the process,” in a statement on X.
“Likewise, we will continue our struggle until a Palestinian state is established, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, independent, sovereign, and possessing territorial integrity,” he continued.
Spain
President Pedro Sánchez said his government welcomes the first phase deal, hoping that it is the start of a “just and lasting” peace.
“Now is the time to engage in dialogue, assist the civilian population, and look to the future. With hope. But also with justice and with memory. So that the atrocities experienced are never repeated again,” said Sánchez in a post on X.
United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the deal a “moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world” particular for the hostages and their families, as well as the civilians of Gaza who have endured “unimaginable suffering” in a statement shared Thursday.
“This agreement must now be implemented in full, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on life-saving humanitarian aid to Gaza,” said Starmer, adding that the U.K. will support “crucial immediate steps” to ensure the full implementation of the plan and following talks.
United Nations
Secretary-General of the U.N. António Guterres has welcomed the “desperately needed breakthrough” in the negotiations, urging all parties to “abide fully bt the terms of the agreement,” in a statement on X.
A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once & for all. Immediate & unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies & essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured. The suffering must end,” said Guterres, adding that the U.N. will support the agreement and scale up the delivery of aid into Gaza to support reconstruction in Gaza.
“The stakes have never been higher,” he added.