There is an agreement to end the war in Gaza

Hamas announced an agreement to “put an end to the war in Gaza”, Israel is already about to withdraw, Trump sets a date for the release of hostages, the world applauds.

A war in Gaza will be over. Several announcements in the last few hours point to the end of the conflict in the Middle East.

The first announcement was Donald Trump, early in the morning: the US president announced that the first phase of his peace plan for the Gaza Strip was accepted by Hamas, which will release the remaining hostages, and by Israel, which will withdraw its forces to a demarcated area.

“ALL hostages will be released soon and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line, as first steps towards a strong, lasting and eternal peace”, Trump posted on the Truth Social network this evening.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of our Peace Plan”, he said, after another day of negotiations in Egypt under the mediation of this country, Qatar and Turkey, in addition to the United States.

Minutes later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, guaranteed that Israel will bring all the hostages from Gaza to home.

Soon afterwards, the Hamas revealed that a “agreement to end the war in Gaza”stressing that it allows the entry of humanitarian aid, implements a “prisoner exchange” and guarantees the departure of Israeli forces.

“We deeply appreciate the efforts of our brothers and mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and we also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump, who aim to put a permanent end to the war and guarantee the total withdrawal of the occupation of the Gaza Strip”, can be read in a note released by the Palestinian Islamist movement.

Hamas called on Trump, the states guaranteeing this agreement and all Arab Islamic and international parties to “oblige the occupying government to fully implement all provisions of the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the commitments made.”

Shortly after 2am (in Lisbon), the Qatar confirmed, in the name of “the mediators”, the agreement for the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, which “will lead to the end of the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the entry of humanitarian aid”.

Regarding the release of hostages, Trump has already set a date: the US president said he believes the Hamas hostages “will return in Monday” At home.

According to official sources, the release of the hostages should begin on Monday, after the agreement is approved by the Israeli Government, and the military withdrawal will cover around 70% of the territory of Gaza.

However, for now, Israel warned that continues to surround the city of Gaza and that returning to Gaza is “extremely dangerous”.

“The area north of Wadi Gaza continues to be considered a dangerous combat zone,” the Israel Defense Forces spokesman warned on social media. [IDF, na sigla inglesa] Avichay Adraee, also warning Gazans to stay away from the Israeli army.

“For your own safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where the IDF is stationed and operating anywhere in the Strip, including the south and east of the Strip, until official instructions are issued,” he added.

The Israeli Army announced that it began preparations and is establishing a protocol to retreat soon to the line that was established for the first phase of their withdrawal after agreement.

“The Army has begun operational preparations to implement the agreement [de cessar-fogo]. As part of this process, preparations and a combat protocol are being implemented to quickly advance to the adjusted projection lines”, announced the Armed Forces.

The Army also assured that it remains deployed in Gaza and is prepared for “any operational development”.

Several world leaders welcomed the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. Between Javier Milei, Mark Carney or António Guterres, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has already reacted: he welcomes this first phase of the agreement, towards “a fair and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, both recognized by Portugal”.

Luís Montenegro also welcomed the agreement and congratulated Donald Trump “for this success and for all his commitment to achieving peace in the Middle East”.