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Israel and Hamas agreed on Thursday to the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire aimed at ending a war that has killed tens of thousands, razed the Palestinian territory and unleashed a major humanitarian crisis.The deal, to be signed Thursday, includes the release of hostages and prisoners as well as a surge of aid into Gaza after more than two years of war started by Hamas’s unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel. Palestinian militant group Hamas would release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed on line, US President Donald Trump said after talks in Egypt on his 20-point peace plan resulted in a deal.Qatar said the deal was the “first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid”.Hamas will exchange 20 living hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a deal, a source within the militant 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 said.The hostages will be released in exchange for 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 others arrested by Israel since the war began, the source added.”I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.”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 also thanked mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, adding: “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would bring the hostages home “with God’s help”.Trump said earlier that he may travel to the Middle East this week as a deal was “very close”.In a dramatic moment, AFP journalists saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupt an event at the White House and hand Trump an urgent note about the progress of the negotiations in Egypt.”I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday,” Trump said, adding that he was “most likely” to turn up in Egypt but would also consider going to war-torn Gaza.Trump’s plan called for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived at the talks earlier.- ‘Optimism prevails’ -As night fell in the coastal area of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, an AFP contributor described an atmosphere of anticipation before the announcement, with joyful chants of “Allahu akbar”, meaning God is the greatest, and some celebratory gunfire into the air.”We’re closely following every bit of news about the negotiations and the ceasefire,” said 50-year-old Mohammed Zamlot, who had been displaced from northern Gaza.Hamas had submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released from Israeli jails in the first phase of the truce.In exchange, Hamas is set to free the remaining 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which sparked the war.Qatar’s prime minister and Turkey’s intelligence chief were also expected at the talks on Wednesday. Hamas said it would be joined by delegations from Islamic Jihad — which has also held some of the hostages in Gaza — as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.The negotiations were taking place under the shadow of the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, where 47 remain, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.The territory’s civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas’s authority, said the bombardment of Gaza had not stopped in the hours before the deal. An AFP journalist in Israel near the Gaza border reported hearing multiple explosions in the morning.- Protests, prisoners -Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones’ return.One key to the negotiations was the names of the Palestinian prisoners Hamas pushed for.High-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti — from Hamas’s rival, the Fatah movement — is among those the group wanted to see released, according to Egyptian state-linked media. Hamas’s top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, also said the Islamist group wants “guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all”.burs-dk/bjt/tc

It was a typically theatrical moment for the man who loves to publicly boast of being the “peacemaker-in-chief.” Donald Trump’s top diplomat interrupted a televised meeting at the White House to hand the US president a note and whisper in his ear that a Gaza deal was imminent.Shortly afterwards he announced the agreement on his Truth Social network. “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” he posted.But while the climax played out in front of reporters, including AFP journalists in the room, most of Trump’s efforts had been behind the scenes, as he sought to pressure a reluctant Benjamin Netanyahu and win Arab support.- Pressure on Netanyahu – Seeking an unlikely Nobel Peace Prize and keen to bolster his legacy, Trump’s approach has been different to the blank check he has previously been regarded as giving key ally Israel. When Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House on September 29 to unveil his 20-point peace plan, he publicly gave the appearance of being fully behind the Israeli prime minister.Trump said that if Hamas did not accept the plan then Israel would have his “full backing to finish the job” and destroy the Palestinian militant group.But in private, Trump was putting on the thumbscrews.Firstly, the plan he laid before Netanyahu and Israeli officials had already been drafted following extensive consultations with Arab and Muslim leaders at the United Nations the previous week.When Netanyahu was confronted with it, he found there were key areas in it that he had sworn not to accept, especially on his refusal to allow a Palestinian state.- Arab unity over Qatar attack  – Trump was also privately incensed by Israel’s attack on Hamas members in fellow US ally Qatar while negotiations were at a sensitive stage. He used Arab unity against the attack to get them all to agree to the plan.He then ambushed Netanyahu, making him call Qatar’s leader from the Oval Office to apologize. Trump even sat holding the phone for Netanyahu while the Israeli leader read from a piece of paper, a photo released by the White House showed.Politico reported that a senior Qatari official was also in the room for the call to make sure Netanyahu stayed on-script. Trump later signed an extraordinary order giving Qatar US security guarantees.The shift also reflected the close ties that Trump has fostered with Arab states during both his presidencies.In his first term the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco signed the Abraham Accords recognising Israel.This time around, Trump’s first major foreign trip was to the Gulf states of Qatar, Egypt and Abu Dhabi — with no stop in Israel.- Seizing on Hamas offer – Trump piled on the pressure, giving Hamas a deadline of October 5 to make a deal or face “all hell.”Hamas responded cunningly, playing on Trump’s well-documented pledge to win the release of all the hostages held in Gaza. Trump has repeatedly met relatives of the hostages at the White House.Trump quickly seized it as a win. He issued a video message and, in an unprecedented step for a US president, reposted the statement by the group that Washington has designated a terrorist organization.There was no mention of the fact that Hamas had not fully agreed to most of the other points in his plan.But instead of quibbling over the details, Trump pushed Israel, Hamas and their mediators to quickly thrash out a deal.Trump told the Axios news outlet that he had said to Netanyahu: “‘Bibi, this is your chance for victory.’ He was fine with it. He’s got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine.”

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he may travel to the Middle East later this week as Israel and Hamas were “very close” to a deal to end the Gaza war.In a dramatic moment, AFP journalists saw US Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupt an event at the White House and hand Trump an urgent note about the progress of the negotiations in Egypt.”Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first,” said the note to Trump, whose 20-point plan forms the basis of the talks.Trump said earlier that he was expecting to travel to the region as the talks between Israel and the Palestinian militant group in the resort of Sharm-el-Sheikh were “going along very well”.”I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday,” he said, adding that he was “most likely” to turn up in Egypt but would also consider going to war-torn Gaza.”‘Peace for the Middle East,’ that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true, but it’s very close.”Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi — who has invited Trump to travel to Egypt if a deal is reached — said signs from the talks were “encouraging”, while Hamas, too, expressed “optimism” over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.Both warring sides have responded positively to Trump’s plan, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.Al-Qahera News, which is close to Egypt’s intelligence services, reported that the evening sessions for Wednesday’s talks had begun.Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived at the talks earlier.- ‘Optimism prevails’ -As night fell in the coastal area of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, an AFP contributor described an atmosphere of anticipation, with joyful chants of “Allahu akbar”, meaning God is the greatest, and some celebratory gunfire into the air.”We’re closely following every bit of news about the negotiations and the ceasefire,” said 50-year-old Mohammed Zamlot, who had been displaced from northern Gaza.Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Sharm El-Sheikh that “mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails”.The militant group submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released from Israeli jails in the first phase of the truce.In exchange, Hamas is set to free the remaining 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which sparked the war.Qatar’s Prime Minister and Turkey’s intelligence chief were also expected at the talks on Wednesday. Hamas said it would be joined by delegations from Islamic Jihad — which has also held some of the hostages in Gaza — as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.The negotiations were taking place under the shadow of the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, where 47 remain, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.The territory’s civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas’s authority, said the bombardment of Gaza had not stopped. An AFP journalist in Israel near the Gaza border reported hearing multiple explosions in the morning.- Protests, prisoners -Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones’ return.Key to the negotiations will be the names of the Palestinian prisoners Hamas will push for.High-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti — from Hamas’s rival, the Fatah movement — is among those the group wants to see released, according to Egyptian state-linked media. Hamas’s top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, also said the Islamist group wants “guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all”.A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday’s session included discussions of Israel’s maps for its initial withdrawal.burs-dk/sbk

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he may go to the Middle East at the end of this week as a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is “very close.”Trump said during an event at the White House that he would “go to Egypt most likely” but that he would also consider going to war-torn Gaza.”I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually. And we’ll see, but there is a very good chance. Negotiations are going along very well,” Trump told reporters at the start of the event.”Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well. So we’ll let you know, if that’s the case, we’ll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe on Saturday.”Near the end of the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unexpectedly entered the room and handed Trump a note. The US president told reporters the note said that “we’re very close to a deal” and that his presence was needed. “I have to go now to try and solve some problems in the Middle East,” he added.Hamas and Israeli officials are having indirect talks in Egypt on a 20-point peace proposal unveiled by Trump to end the two-year-old war.- ‘Very close’ -Trump said as he began the event that he had come off the phone with officials in the Middle East, where his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had just joined discussions in Egypt.”‘Peace for the Middle East,’ that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true, but it’s very close, and they’re doing very well,” Trump added.”We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and they’re, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it’s something I think that will happen.”Asked if he would consider going to Gaza if a deal happens, Trump replied: “I would, yeah. I would. I might do that. I may do that. We haven’t decided exactly.”Trump said he would insist on the release of hostages held by Hamas before traveling to the region.Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said earlier that he had received “encouraging” signs and hailed the support of Trump. Hamas too expressed “optimism” over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

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US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he may go to the Middle East at the end of this week as a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is “very close.””I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually. And we’ll see, but there is a very good chance. Negotiations are going along very well,” Trump told reporters during an event at the White House.”Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well. So we’ll let you know, if that’s the case, we’ll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe on Saturday.”Trump said he had just come off the phone with officials in the Middle East, where his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had just joined discussions in Egypt.”‘Peace for the Middle East,’ that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true, but it’s very close, and they’re doing very well,” Trump added.”We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and they’re, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it’s something I think that will happen.”Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said earlier that he had received “encouraging” signs and hailed the support of Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks. Hamas too expressed “optimism” over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

By joining the indirect talks in Egypt between Israel and Hamas, Turkey hopes to use its longstanding relationship with the Palestinian Islamist movement to help end the Gaza war.Speaking late Tuesday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Donald Trump had “specifically requested that we meet with Hamas and persuade them” to accept the peace plan the US leader laid out last month.Erdogan has led this Muslim-majority nation of 86 million inhabitants since 2003 and is known for his Islamic-leaning conservatism. He has repeatedly accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza — a charge denied by Israel.He said a Turkish team led by spy chief Ibrahim Kalin would join negotiators in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh as they met for a third day seeking to halt the two-year war alongside US and Qatari officials.Last week, Kalin joined Egyptian and Qatari officials in Doha to discuss Trump’s 20-point peace plan with Hamas negotiators, Qatar said.While Hamas is blacklisted by Washington, Brussels and Israel as a terrorist organisation, Erdogan has always referred to it as “a liberation movement”. He nurtures close ties with it and frequently hosts its leaders.Since 2011, when Ankara helped broker an agreement for the movement to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit whom it had held captive for five years, Turkey has provided a place of refuge for Hamas officials. – ‘Strong support’ – Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, the German Marshall Fund’s Ankara office director said Erdogan had always offered “strong” support for the group.He “equated Hamas’ resistance with Turkish resistance (to European powers) during World War I,” he said.”But right now, there is only one position in Turkey: Israel is committing genocide and it needs to be stopped,” Unluhisarcikli added.When Hamas staged its deadly October 7, 2023 attacks, media reports said several of its leaders — including the late Ismail Haniyeh — were in Turkey at the time.According to these reports, Erdogan discreetly asked them to leave as he was trying to rebuild bridges with Israel at the time.The October 7 attacks caused the deaths of 1,219 people in Israel with another 251 taken hostage. It sparked a retaliatory military campaign that has killed more than 67,183 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry — figures the UN considers credible.”The fundamental criteria for Turkey is Hamas’s resistance to Israeli occupation and its legitimacy for the Palestinian people,” said Mustafa Yetim, an international relations expert at Osmangazi University in Eskisehir.According to Talha Ismail Duman, a Middle East researcher at Sakarya University, many Hamas officials have used Turkey as a safe haven in recent decades.”Some live here and Hamas delegations often come to meet with Turkey’s political and security leaders,” he told AFP.Over the past eighteen months, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan and political bureau member Bassem Naim have both been interviewed by AFP in Istanbul.Duman said Hamas’s ties with Turkey were “particularly good under (its former chief) Khaled Meshaal” over their shared position on the Arab Spring and the war in Syria.Another part of the Palestinian group aligned itself more with Iran and its Hezbollah proxy. But “the rise of Haniyeh (who took over) in 2017 and that of Yahya Sinwar” — the late Hamas leader accused by Israel of masterminding the October 7 attacks — “progressively reduced Turkey’s influence”, he said. “Today Hamas has a policy of balancing its ties with Iran and Turkey”, meaning Ankara can leverage its influence over the group in its dealings with the White House, he said.