In the first phase of the plan, the release of the last 20 Israeli hostages is planned in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
and the reached, this Thursday (9, local date), an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza, in the first phase of American President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war in Gaza. The agreement was announced by in its network, Truth Social, and later confirmed by Qatar — one of the pact’s mediators — and Hamas sources participating in indirect negotiations in Egypt.
Trump said he was “very proud” to announce the agreement, in which “ALL hostages will soon be released and Israel will withdraw its troops to an established line, as the first steps towards a strong, lasting and eternal peace.” A source close to the negotiations told AFP that the pact will be signed this Thursday, around noon in Egypt (6am in Brasília).
“It’s a great day for Israel,” said the prime minister who thanked Trump and said that he would bring together his cabinet to approve the agreement, reached with mediation by Egypt and Qatar. A Hamas source detailed that the agreement includes the release of 20 Israeli hostages in its possession at once, in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
The exchange must take place within 72 hours of the start of implementation of the agreement, this source, who is familiar with the negotiations, told AFP. “With God’s help,” all hostages will return to their homes, Netanyahu said. Hamas guaranteed that the pact “provides for the end of the war” and asked Trump to ensure that Israel fulfills its part.
On Wednesday night, in a telephone interview with Fox News television, the American president said he believes the hostages will be back in Israel next Monday, including the remains of the deceased.
A handwritten note
In a dramatic moment, AFP journalists saw Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupt an event at the White House and hand Trump an urgent note on the progress of negotiations in Egypt. The agreement was “very close”, the handwritten note indicated. “We need you to approve an ad on Truth Social quickly so you can be the first to announce the deal,” the note added. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al Sissi had previously reported that, in the event of an agreement, Trump was invited to “attend the signing”.
Trump said he could travel on Saturday or Sunday. The deal was reached just days after Israel marked the second anniversary of the unprecedented Hamas attack, which took place on October 7, 2023. Of the 251 people kidnapped that day, 47 still remain in Gaza, 25 of whom are said to be dead, according to the Israeli Army.
Trump’s peace plan contains 20 points that provide, in addition to a ceasefire, the gradual withdrawal of the Israeli Army from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and the sending of humanitarian aid to the devastated Palestinian territory. UN Secretary-General António Guterres celebrated the announcement of the agreement and urged the parties to “fully respect” its terms.
Controversy
Senior officials from the United States, Qatar and Turkey joined the negotiations during the day, in which Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also participated. Two previous truces, in November 2023 and early 2025, allowed the return of hostages or bodies of captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Amid negotiations on the peace plan, a far-right Israeli minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, visited the Esplanade of the Mosques, in Jerusalem, provoking the anger of Hamas and several Arab countries.
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 resulted in 1,219 deaths, most of them civilians, according to a balance prepared using official data. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that devastated Palestinian territory, caused a humanitarian catastrophe and left, according to the Ministry of Health of the Hamas government, more than 67,100 people dead, most of them civilians.
The UN declared a state of famine in part of and independent investigators from this international organization claim that Israel is committing a “genocide” — something that the highest Israeli authorities reject.
*With information from AFP
