Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a US-brokered peace plan aimed at halting the war in Gaza and securing the release of hostages and prisoners, US President Donald Trump announced.

“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,” Trump wrote on social media. “All Parties will be treated fairly!”

Trump’s announcement marks the most significant breakthrough yet in efforts to end the devastating conflict that erupted after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

The agreement follows several days of intensive talks in Egypt, where negotiators from the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar have been working on the framework of Trump’s proposed hostages-for-ceasefire deal.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

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