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Late on Wednesday, the White House announced that Israel and Hamas have approved the first phase of a ceasefire plan in Gaza, signaling a potential turning point in the almost two-year-long conflict.
The announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on social media that both parties had endorsed “the first stage of our Peace Plan,” raising hopes for a breakthrough after months of stalled negotiations.
According to the plan’s initial terms, all hostages are expected to be released in the coming days, while Israeli forces will begin a phased withdrawal to pre-agreed positions.
Both sides later confirmed their acceptance of the plan, marking the most significant progress in the Gaza talks since the war began.
Besides Türkiye, Qatar and Egypt were also mentioned by Trump as countries that contributed. Turkish Intelligence Chief Ibrahim Kalin was also present at the meeting in Egypt.
Speaking at a briefing earlier in the day, Trump said the chances of reaching a lasting peace were “very high.”
He revealed that discussions with regional partners, including Egypt, were advancing rapidly and that he might travel to the Middle East over the weekend if progress continued.
“I think this is going to happen,” he said, referring to the negotiations. “We’re very close to a deal.
If all goes well, I could be in Egypt by Sunday—or maybe late Saturday. The prospects are strong, and talks with Hamas are moving in a good direction.”
Sources later confirmed that the president is expected to undergo a routine medical check on Friday before departing for the region.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi confirmed that he has invited Trump to Cairo for a formal signing ceremony should the peace agreement be finalized.
Speaking at a police academy graduation ceremony earlier in the day, Sisi said, “If an agreement is reached, it would be wonderful if you could attend the signing ceremony.”
Regional media outlets reported that Sisi also emphasized Egypt’s resilience in the face of threats and its determination to ensure regional stability.
Egyptian officials have been leading mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas for months, with the support of Qatari and U.S. diplomats.
During a briefing, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio approached the president and handed him a handwritten note.
Reading it, Trump abruptly ended the session, telling reporters, “We’re very close to an agreement in the Middle East. I’ll be needed very soon, so I must keep this short.”
The unexpected interruption fueled speculation that the message contained new updates on the ongoing talks between Israeli and Hamas negotiators, which have been taking place under U.S. and Egyptian mediation.
Following Washington’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help, we will bring our hostages home.”
Israeli media cited government sources suggesting that the first group of hostages could be released as early as Saturday.
Hamas, in a statement shared with Arabic-language media, confirmed that an agreement had been reached “to end the Gaza war, secure Israel’s withdrawal, and facilitate the exchange of prisoners and detainees.”
The group urged the United States and other guarantor states to ensure that Israel abides by the terms of the ceasefire.
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