Hamas receives guarantees from US that war 'has ended completely'

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US President Donald Trump has been officially invited to address Israel's parliament, following an invitation from the speaker of the Knesset.

"The people of Israel regard you as the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history," speaker Amir Ohana said.

The Israeli government early on Friday, approved a deal to secure the release of all captives held in Gaza, both living and deceased, a statement issued by the prime minister's office said.

A senior official in the US said late on Thursday that Washington is deploying around 200 troops to help support and monitor the ceasefire. 

The official, who remains unnamed, said the troops would be deployed to Israel, where US Central Command will establish a "civil-military coordination center".

The troops will also facilitate the flow of aid and other logistical matters, the official added. 

Israel's far-right extremist national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on Thursday he would vote against a US-sponsored Gaza ceasefire and captive release deal with Hamas as it proposes releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

"The heart of all of us fills with joy... at the fact that all the hostages are expected to return... However, alongside this joy, it is absolutely forbidden to ignore the question of the price: the release of thousands of terrorists, including 250 murderers who are expected to be freed from prisons. This is an unbearable heavy price," Ben Gvir wrote on X.

"I cannot vote in favour of a deal that releases those murderous terrorists, and we will oppose it in the government," he said in a statement posted while the Israeli cabinet was voting on the deal.

Hamas' chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said on Thursday evening that 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israeli prisons will be released as part of the ceasefire deal, alongside 1,700 Palestinians from Gaza who were arrested since the war began.

He added that all Palestinian women and children detained by Israel in the same time period will also be freed. 

"We have received assurances from the brotherly mediators and the US administration, who have confirmed that the war is completely over," Khalil al-Hayya said.

The leader of Yemen's Houthi group said on Thursday evening that they are monitoring Israel's compliance with the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The leader added that they will resume their support for Gaza if Israel fails to comply. 

Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas' negotiating team, made a speech late on Thursday confirming the ceasefire agreement. 

"We announce reaching an agreement to end the war and aggression against our people and to begin implementing a permanent ceasefire".

An Israeli strike has targeted a residential building in central Gaza City despite a ceasefire that was agreed, Al-Jazeera Arabic reported late on Thursday.

A Gaza City municipality spokesperson, Asem Alnabih, on Thursday evening said that the war on Gaza has not stopped, adding "the reality on the ground has not changed".

He said that despite the ceasefire deal being agreed upon, there is still bloodshed. 

"Therefore, congratulations and celebrations may not be the best course of action right now, especially since blood is still being shed in Gaza," he wrote in a social media post.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and said it was ready to flood Gaza with desperately-needed food.

News that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire "is a huge relief", UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

The agreement follows a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US President Donald Trump, under which Israel should withdraw from the Gaza Strip and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captives.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani agreed in a phone call that the Russian-Arab summit should be postponed, the Kremlin said on Thursday.

"Given the start of the active phase of US President Donald Trump's plan for normalisation in the Gaza Strip, Vladimir Putin and Mohammed Sudani agreed that it would be difficult for many of the invited leaders of Arab states to personally come to Moscow in this situation," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The summit was scheduled to take place in Moscow on 15 October.

Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan on Thursday told Qatar-based broadcaster Al Araby the Palestinian militant group rejects Donald Trump's proposal for an interim "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza's administration, headed by the US president himself.

"No Palestinian would accept this. All the factions, including the Palestinian Authority, reject this," Hamdan told Al Araby Television Network.

Key points on the future of Gaza remain to be addressed.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would try to go to Egypt for the signing of a Gaza ceasefire and captive release deal between Israel and Hamas.

"I'm going to try and make a trip over. We're going to try and get over there, and we're working on the timing, the exact timing," Trump said at a cabinet meeting.

Trump added that hostages held in the Palestinian territory would be released on "Monday or Tuesday" and said that the deal had "ended the war in Gaza".

President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the Gaza captives would attend a signing ceremony in Egypt.

Trump opened a White House Cabinet meeting to discuss the deal reached on Wednesday under which the captives held by Hamas are to be released as part of a first phase of a broader Gaza plan. He said he believed it would lead to "lasting peace".

French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that increasing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank were an "existential threat" to a Palestinian state.

Ramped up settlement construction "is not only unacceptable and contrary to international law. It fuels tensions, violence, and instability," Macron said at a meeting of top diplomats from Arab and European states on Gaza in Paris. He spoke after a ceasefire deal was struck.

A Palestinian rights group on Thursday sought to overturn a ruling that Britain lawfully allowed F-35 fighter jet components to be indirectly exported to Israel, despite accepting they could be used to breach international humanitarian law.

Al-Haq, a group based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, unsuccessfully challenged Britain's Department for Business and Trade over its decision last year to exempt F-35 parts when it suspended export licences for arms that could be used in the conflict in Gaza.

The group asked the Court of Appeal for permission to challenge a lower court ruling that found Britain's decision was lawful and dismissed Al-Haq's challenge.

The release of all captives held by Hamas, as stipulated under a newly signed first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal, should bring about an end to the two-year war, Israel's foreign minister said in an interview Thursday.

"There will be a ceasefire and then the commitment within 72 hours of Hamas to release all the [captives]. I believe that can, that should bring the end to this war," Gideon Saar told Fox News Channel's Jennifer Griffin.

Nepal on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, urging the release of all hostages, including the lone Nepali held in Gaza.

"We call for the immediate release of all hostages, including Nepali national Bipin Joshi," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We urge all parties concerned to implement the plan in its true spirit, to ensure the smooth flow of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and to pave the way for lasting peace."

Real progress in Gaza will come when obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid are removed, not just "silencing of the guns," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday.

He spoke to reporters following the announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire and captive-release deal.

The UN chief reiterated his call for all parties to "abide fully" by the terms of the agreement.

"But to turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns," Guterres said, following months of calls from the body for Israel to stop obstructing the delivery of aid.

"We need full, safe and sustained access for humanitarian workers; the removal of red tape and impediments; and the rebuilding of shattered infrastructure."

The European Union is ready to discuss how it can contribute to the Gaza peace plan, the bloc's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Thursday, ahead of a conference on Gaza in Paris.

"This is the best chance we have," Kallas said.

Iran called on the international community to prevent Israel from violating its obligations in Gaza, its foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday, after the ceasefire was signed.

The foreign ministry said Tehran supports any effort that ends the "genocide" and the war in Gaza. 

Israel is committed to US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza, foreign minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday.

"We are committed to Trump's plan," Saar told Fox News in an interview when asked if Israel would pull out of the Palestinian enclave.

The Israeli security cabinet meeting has begun, following delays. 

The full meeting to vote on a deal to begin the ceasefire will take place after, scheduled for 8PM Israel time.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza on Thursday and said the United Nations is ready to help.

"The United Nations stands ready to provide its full support. We and our partners are prepared to move – now," Guterres said at the United Nations. He pressed for full and sustained access for humanitarian workers in Gaza. 

An Israeli government spokeswoman said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump held an "emotional" phone call on Thursday following the announcement of a Gaza deal between Israel and Hamas.

"In a phone call earlier this morning, Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his global leadership efforts to make this all possible," Shosh Bedrosian told journalists.

"It was a very emotional and a warm conversation as both leaders congratulated each other on this historic achievement," she added.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas met with Israeli activists in Ramallah on Thursday to discuss long-term peace after Israel and Hamas agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

"I welcome the agreement signed today, the end of the war, and the release of the hostages," Abbas told dozens of representatives from Israeli peace organisations assembled at the presidential palace in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

"A few months ago, (US President Donald) Trump had a plan to expel the Palestinians, but later he forgot about it," he added.

"Nevertheless, we will remain in our homeland and establish a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and east Jerusalem," he said.

The Egyptian Red Crescent said Thursday that 153 trucks carrying aid were headed into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Two sources from the Egyptian aid organisation confirmed that "153 aid trucks entered through the Rafah crossing's bypass road, en route to the Kerem Shalom crossing, to be brought into the Gaza Strip". Among the trucks were 80 from the United Nations, 21 from Qatar and 17 from the Egyptian Red Crescent, they added.

The Israeli government spokesperson has announced that the Gaza ceasefire would begin within 24 hours following a cabinet meeting today. 

The Israeli army will redeploy along the "yellow line", which would give it control over around 53 percent of the besieged enclave.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem has accused Israel of “manipulating the dates, lists, and procedures” of the newly announced ceasefire deal.

Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic, Qassem said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was attempting to “show his people that he controls and manages everything,” and claimed that Israel was delaying implementation “for internal political considerations.”

He said Hamas remains in contact with mediators to ensure Israel complies with the terms agreed upon.
 

UNICEF’s communications specialist for Palestine, Rosalia Bollen, said the ceasefire announcement brings “hope and relief” but stressed that aid deliveries into Gaza must increase immediately.

"The needs in the Gaza Strip after two years of relentless war and deprivation are massive," Bollen told Al Jazeera, warning that the situation among children is especially dire.

UNICEF has recorded a sharp rise in acute malnutrition among children under five, she said, noting that many “cannot afford to wait” for food, medical, and nutrition supplies.

Bollen added that UNICEF alone could deploy more than 1,300 trucks of life-saving aid as soon as access is granted.

Turkey will take part in efforts to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza agreed by Israel and Hamas, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

"God willing, we as Turkey will take part in the mission force that will monitor the agreement's implementation in the field," he said in a speech in Ankara, adding that Turkey will contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza.

Talks in Sharm el-Sheikh are focusing on Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences as part of a Gaza exchange deal.

Hamas has included senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti on its lists, but Israel has rejected his release.

Qatar, with US support, is pressing for Barghouti’s inclusion alongside other high-profile Palestinian leaders.

The lists also feature Ahmad Sa’adat and senior Hamas commanders, though Israel is strongly opposing their release.

Israel has an interest in expanding the circle of peace and normalisation in the Middle Eastern region, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday, following the ceasefire.

The Global Sumud aid flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces last week as it attempted to carry aid to Gaza, says six of its participants are still being detained by Israel.

Lebanon has arrested 32 people in recent months on suspicion of providing Israel with information on Hezbollah that facilitated strikes on the Iran-backed group, a judicial official told AFP on Thursday.

More than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of open war, saw Israel pummel the group's arsenal and commanders, and it has kept up strikes since a November truce.

Requesting anonymity, the official said that "at least 32 people have been arrested on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, six of them before the ceasefire".

Peacekeeping troops, a legal framework and a no longer dangerous Hamas are all necessary in the future as part of a plan for the Gaza Strip and will be discussed among international partners in Paris, said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Thursday.

"Humanitarian and medical aid must now reach Gaza quickly; the people need prospects for reconstruction," he said on social media platform X.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees on Thursday welcomed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and said it was ready to flood Gaza with desperately-needed food.

News that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire "is a huge relief", UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

This "will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss and grief for two long years", Lazzarini said, hailing that "after their excruciating ordeal, hostages and Palestinian detainees will finally join their families".

The UNRWA chief said his agency had "food, medicines + other basic supplies ready to go to Gaza", where the UN has said famine is spreading.

"We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months."

The agreement to finally secure a ceasefire in #Gaza & release the hostages is a huge relief.

It will bring respite to people who survived the worst bombardment, displacement, loss and grief for two long years.
After their excruciating ordeal, hostages & Palestinian detainees…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) October 9, 2025

Turkey will take part in a joint task force - alongside Israel, the United States, Qatar and Egypt - that will be established to locate the bodies of deceased captives in Gaza whose locations are unknown, a senior Turkish official said on Thursday.

Turkish officials took part in negotiations in Egypt that resulted in a ceasefire and captive deal earlier on Thursday. 

The Norwegian Refugee Council, one of the largest independent aid groups working in Gaza, said President Donald Trump's plan to increase aid to starving people as part of a ceasefire will fail unless all aid groups can resume operations.

"The desperation is deeper and the exhaustion is greater than anyone can imagine inside Gaza...It's not enough with some UN agencies and a few NGOs," Jan Egeland, NRC head, told Reuters in an interview via video link from Oslo.

"If not, the Trump peace plan will not succeed...We don't have time for more bureaucratic obstacles."

France on Thursday hosts foreign ministers from Arab and European countries for talks on helping the Palestinians once the Gaza war, a meeting that comes hours after the two sides agreed on a ceasefire deal.

The Paris meeting brings together the top diplomats of five key Arab states, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with European counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK. Turkey and the European Union will also be represented.

"This meeting will enable work on the implementation of the peace plan and the framework for the 'day after' by specifying the aspects of a collective commitment," said a French foreign ministry statement.

It would focus on security, governance and reconstruction of the Palestinian territories after the war, it said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed Thursday the announcement of a deal "to establish a ceasefire and end the war in Gaza after two years of suffering and woes".

He said the agreement, reached after days of talks in Egypt, was a "historic moment" that "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 office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that an agreement to secure the release of hostages in Gaza will take effect only after receiving cabinet approval.

"Contrary to Arab media reports, the 72-hour countdown will begin only after the agreement is approved in the cabinet meeting, which is expected in the evening hours," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The agreement on the first stage of US President Donald Trump's plan for ending the Gaza war took effect on Thursday at 0900 GMT, according to Egyptian state-affiliated TV al-Qahera news.

Israel's cabinet will meet on Thursday at 1500 GMT to discuss a plan to secure the release of all captives held in Gaza, a government statement said.

"Government meeting at 18:00 (1500 GMT). Agenda - Plan for the release of all Israeli hostages," an announcement posted on the government website said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced overnight that he would be convening a cabinet meeting on Thursday to approve a plan for the release of captives.

The frontrunner to become Ireland's next president has criticised the government for inaction on a planned law to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements in protest over Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Catherine Connolly, an independent leftwing lawmaker backed by the main opposition Sinn Féin party, urged Dublin not to buckle to pressure from big US companies by watering down the law and stopping just a trickle of trade in goods, not services.

Egypt's foreign ministry on Thursday hailed the "recent positive developments in Sharm El-Sheikh, which represent a pivotal moment in the war in Gaza", hours after a deal was announced between Hamas and Israel.

The statement said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty would travel to Paris on Thursday for a ministerial meeting to "discuss arrangements for the situation in the Gaza Strip", after mediators Egypt, Qatar, the US and Turkey brokered a deal for the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire.

Russia supports the agreement between Israel and Hamas on the first phase of the settlement of the conflict in Gaza, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Thursday.

China

China said on Thursday that it hoped for a "permanent and comprehensive" ceasefire in Gaza.

"China hopes to achieve a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, effectively alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and ease regional tensions," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a regular news conference.

"China advocates adhering to the principle that 'Palestinians should govern Palestine,'" Guo said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the and expressed the hope it would pave the way for a "political solution".

"This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution," the French president wrote on X.

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that Germany is still observing the situation regarding U President Donald Trump's Gaza deal but is confident a solution will be found this week.

"We are encouraged by the developments in Israel. There is obviously a great chance of reaching an agreement with Hamas in the next few hours," Merz said after a meeting with senior members of his governing coalition in Berlin.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia on Thursday welcomed the agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war and the launch of the first phase of US President Donald Trump's proposal, saying it marks an important step towards achieving a comprehensive and just peace in the region.

The Israeli military said Thursday it was preparing to pull back troops in Gaza after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire deal to free the remaining captives.

"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 said in a statement.

The World Health Organization chief hailed Thursday the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas as "a big step towards lasting peace", saying his agency was prepared to "scale up" health assistance in Gaza.

"WHO stands ready to scale up its work to meet the dire health needs of patients across Gaza, and to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

Palestine

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas hailed a Gaza ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas on Thursday, saying he hoped it could lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

In a statement on social media, Abbas "welcomed the announcement by US President Donald Trump of an agreement to cease the war on the Gaza Strip," and "expressed hope that these efforts would be a prelude to reaching a permanent political solution... leading to an end to the Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state".

Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed satisfaction Thursday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and thanked Donald Trump's efforts to end the war.

"I am greatly pleased that the Hamas-Israel talks... have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza, I especially thank US President, Mr. Trump, who demonstrated the necessary political will to encourage the Israeli government toward the ceasefire," Erdogan said on his official X account.

Turkey, which has been closely involved in the negotiations and sent a team to the talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, would "closely monitor the strict implementation of the agreement", he added.

The agreement, which will be signed in Egypt on Thursday, involves freeing the remaining hostages and is a major step towards ending the two-year war that has killed tens of thousands of people and unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe.

France

Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that he welcomed the agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, adding France will continue to hold talks with international partners to seek a political solution to the war.

"This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution," Macron said in posts on social media platform X.

"France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with our international partners," he added.

Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday hailed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, saying he hoped "this marks the beginning of a just and lasting peace."

"Now it is time to engage in dialogue, to support the civilian population, and to look to the future with hope. But also with justice and with remembrance, so that the atrocities experienced are never repeated," he added.

The Socialist leader is one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel's offensive in the Palestinian territory.

Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said he opposed the Gaza ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas on Thursday, insisting that he would vote against it.

"There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue to pour rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid," Smotrich said on X.

"For this reason alone, we cannot join in short-sighted celebrations or vote in favour of the deal."

Italy

Italy's foreign minister has welcomed the agreement on the first stage of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza and said the country is ready to send troops if peacekeeping forces are needed.

"The peace is near", Antonio Tajani said on Friday on social media website X. "Italy, which has always supported the U.S. plan, is ready to do its part to consolidate the ceasefire, deliver new humanitarian aid, and participate in the reconstruction of Gaza. We are also ready to send troops if an international peacekeeping force is created to reunify Palestine."

EU

Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of the U.S. Gaza plan is a significant breakthrough, and a real chance to end the war and release all the hostages, the EU's foreign affairs chief said on Thursday, calling it "a major diplomatic accomplishment".

"The EU will do what it can to support its implementation," Kaja Kallas also said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday welcomed the agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza and commended the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

"Now, all parties must fully uphold the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end," she posted on X, adding that the EU would keep supporting aid deliveries to Gaza and stood ready to help with reconstruction.

Jordan

Jordan welcomed on Thursday the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and its first-phase implementation mechanisms, saying it should lead to an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, a prisoner exchange, and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

"A big day for Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement.

"Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home. I thank the heroic IDF soldiers and all the security forces — thanks to their courage and sacrifice, we have reached this day.

"I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages.

"With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours."

Hamas

"We highly appreciate the efforts of our brothers and mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war completely and achieving a full withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip," Hamas said in a statement.

"We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic, and international parties to compel the occupation government to fully implement its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.

"We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and throughout our homeland and the diaspora, who have demonstrated unparalleled honor, courage, and heroism — confronting the fascist occupation projects that targeted them and their national rights. These sacrifices and steadfast positions have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s schemes of subjugation and displacement.

"We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved."

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters

"Hamas needs to release all of the hostages and Israel must withdraw their troops to the agreed-upon line," Peters said in a statement.

"This is an essential first step towards achieving lasting peace. We urge Israel and Hamas to continue working towards a complete resolution."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

"Australia welcomes President Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza," Albanese said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

"After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much-needed step towards peace. Australia has consistently been part of international calls for a ceasefire, return of the hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza. We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan.

"Australia strongly supports the plan’s commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza. There is a very long road to recovery in Gaza, securing long-term peace and building the Palestinian state. Together with our partners, Australia will continue to do what we can to contribute to a just and enduring two-state solution."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

"I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza," Starmer said in a statement.

"This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.

"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.

"We call on all parties to meet the commitments they have made, to end the war, and to build the foundations for a just and lasting end to the conflict and a sustainable path to a long-term peace.

Government of Canada's Global Affairs Department

"Canada welcomes the agreement of Israel and Hamas to implement the first phase of the peace plan put forward by President Trump, and facilitated by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey," Global Affairs Canada, which manages the country's diplomatic and consular relations, said on X.

"After two long years, hostages will finally be reunited with their families - and that Israeli troops will withdraw to behind agreed upon lines. Immediate and unimpeded humanitarian aid must be provided to the many people in dire need across Gaza.

"Canada will support all efforts to turn this positive step into lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians."

The Gaza civil defence agency reported Thursday several strikes on the territory after the announcement that Hamas and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire plan.

"Since the announcement last night of an agreement on a proposed ceasefire framework in Gaza, several explosions have been reported, particularly in areas of northern Gaza," said one of the agency's officials, Mohammed Al-Mughayyir, citing "a series of intense airstrikes" on Gaza City.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he believed all the captives held in Gaza, including the bodies of those deceased, will be "coming back" Monday after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of his peace plan.

"So much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they'll all be coming back on Monday, so it looks like that's the thing, and that'll include the bodies of the dead," Trump said in a phone interview on Fox News.

Hamas has submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released under the terms of the deal, senior Hamas official Zaher Jabareen said in a statement.

"We await the final agreement on the names," he said.

Israel is expected to release 2,000 prisoners and detainees in exchange for the Israeli captives in Gaza.

The first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is to be signed on Thursday in Egypt at roughly 0900 GMT, a source with knowledge of the agreement told AFP.

"The deal will be formally signed around midday (local time) on Thursday in Egypt", a source with knowledge of the agreement said on condition of anonymity.

Hamas will exchange 20 living captives for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a deal to end the war in Gaza, a source within the armed group told AFP Thursday.

The exchange will take place within 72 hours of the implementation of the agreement, which is expected to be signed on Thursday, the source familiar with the negotiations source said.

The captives will be released in exchange for 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 others arrested by Israel since the war began on 7 October 2023, the source added.

Netanyahu invited Trump to speak in front of the Knesset during a phone call this evening after the deal was announced.

The Israeli prime minister thanked Trump for his efforts to broker the ceasefire, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office.

Trump is expected to travel to the region in the coming days.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel and Hamas to uphold the ceasefire in a statement welcoming the agreement.

"I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire & hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by @POTUS. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt & Türkiye in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough," he wrote in a post on X.

He continued: "I urge all concerned to abide fully by the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. 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."

I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire & hostage release in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by @POTUS. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt & Türkiye in brokering this desperately needed breakthrough.

I urge all…

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 9, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his government on Thursday to approve the Gaza ceasefire agreement, he said in a statement.

"A great day for Israel," he added. 

An Israeli source has told CNN that the Israeli captives could be released on Saturday or Sunday, following the ceasefire agreement announced earlier this evening.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a short statement following the announcement of the agreement.

"With God’s help, we will bring them all home," he said, in reference to the Israeli captives held in Gaza.

Hamas has released a statement calling on US president Donald Trump to ensure that Israel sticks to the agreement.

The Palestinian armed group said it had agreed with mediators on a deal to end the war, withdraw Israeli troops, release the captives, and allow aid into the strip.

It thanked Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and the US for helping to broker the agreement.

"We call on President Trump and the guarantor states of the agreement...to compel the occupation government to fully implement the agreement and not to evade or delay its implementation," it said.

Qatar's foreign ministry has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed on "all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement".

This will "lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid," ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari wrote on X.

"The details will be announced later," he added.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the "first phase" of a ceasefire in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has announced.

"I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"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," he said.