⏰ Timeline: Ceasefire Within 24 Hours

Israeli officials confirmed the Cabinet will convene to vote on the agreement, with a ceasefire expected to take effect within 24 hours of approval. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump spoke by phone Thursday morning, congratulating each other on what they described as a “historic achievement.”

The White House expects the first group of hostages to be released by Monday as part of a phased process that will also see Israel free hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

🎉 Scenes of Relief in Israel and Gaza

Tel Aviv

Celebrations broke out across Israel after the announcement. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, hundreds of people waved Israeli and American flags, danced, and replaced signs showing the number of days since the October 7 kidnappings with messages reading, “They’re coming back.”

Gaza Strip

In Gaza, fireworks and cheers erupted in Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah. After two years of relentless bombardment and siege, the news of a truce brought a rare moment of hope.

🌍 Global Praise and Nobel Peace Prize Calls

Leaders from around the world hailed the agreement as a turning point:

Calls grew for Trump to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, with both Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid publicly endorsing the idea. Netanyahu’s office posted an AI-generated image of the Israeli leader hanging a Nobel medal around Trump’s neck, captioned, “Give @realDonaldTrump the Nobel Peace Prize — he deserves it!”

📋 Trump’s 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan

The deal is based on Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, unveiled last month. Key provisions include:

It remains unclear when or how Hamas will agree to demilitarize — a demand Trump has called “non-negotiable.”

🔍 Hamas and Israel: The Road Ahead

Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said the first phase “meets the essential demand of our people — to stop Israel’s aggression.” However, he noted that Hamas has not agreed to disband its military wing and that discussions over Gaza’s future governance will continue.

Israel confirmed that Marwan Barghouti, a highly popular Palestinian prisoner serving multiple life sentences, will not be among those released in the first exchange.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it is preparing “adjusted deployment lines” in Gaza and warned residents not to return to northern areas yet, which remain “dangerous combat zones.”

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and United Nations pledged to scale up humanitarian operations, calling the agreement a “critical first step toward recovery and reconstruction.”

🏛️ Political Reactions

Israel

Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said he would vote against the deal, calling it “a mistake to release terrorists.” But President Isaac Herzog endorsed the agreement, saying it offered “a chance to heal and open a new horizon of hope.”

United States

U.S. lawmakers from both parties congratulated Trump. Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine said the plan “brings real hope for enduring peace,” while Republican Sen. John Fetterman called it “historic.”

Trump told Fox News that his trademark tariffs policy played a role in pressuring regional actors toward peace, claiming, “I’ve saved millions of lives using tariffs.”

🕊️ A Historic Turning Point

Nearly two years after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks and Israel’s devastating response, the war that reshaped the Middle East may finally be nearing an end.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the deal, pledging full UN support for its implementation and urging both sides to “commit to a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security.”

For families on both sides of the border, that peace cannot come soon enough.