In a landmark decision, the Israeli cabinet voted Thursday night to approve the first phase of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, setting the stage for the release of all Israeli hostages and a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Key Terms of the Agreement
The initial phase of the deal, part of a 20-point framework unveiled by President Trump last month, includes two principal provisions. First, Hamas will release every Israeli hostage it holds in Gaza—both living captives and the remains of those killed in captivity. Second, Israeli forces will halt all military operations inside the Gaza Strip and withdraw to a mutually agreed security line, marking the formal start of a ceasefire.
President Trump celebrated the cabinet’s decision on social media, declaring, “All hostages will be freed soon, and Israel will pull back to the agreed line as the first step toward a strong, lasting, and just peace for all.”
Cabinet Vote and Implementation Timeline
The security cabinet convened in Tel Aviv at 5:00 p.m. local time, immediately followed by a full cabinet session at 6:00 p.m., where the proposal secured broad support. According to government sources, the decision took immediate effect: Israeli forces have 24 hours to complete their withdrawal, triggering a 72-hour window for Hamas to surrender all hostages once the pullback is finalized.
Diplomatic Context
The breakthrough follows indirect talks held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, under the joint mediation of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, with a U.S. team led by senior White House officials. The truce ends hostilities that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault on Israel, which left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and over 250 taken hostage.
International reactions were swift and positive. Key Arab and Western nations hailed the agreement, urging rapid and full implementation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres voiced his support, calling the deal “an essential step toward ending a humanitarian crisis that has endured for two years.”
Challenges Ahead
Despite widespread relief over the hostage releases and halt in fighting, several major hurdles remain:
Defining and monitoring the final withdrawal boundaries and ensuring neither side undermines the ceasefire.
Advancing to the second phase, which addresses Gaza’s reconstruction, temporary governance structures, and rebuilding civilian infrastructure.
Determining Hamas’s long-term role and its commitment to disarming in accordance with the broader peace process.
Conclusion
Israel’s approval of the first phase of President Trump’s peace deal marks the most significant diplomatic achievement since the conflict began. If all proceeds as planned, the hostages will be freed by next Monday, and a new chapter of peace talks could begin to reshape the future of Israeli–Palestinian relations.
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