Gaza: Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire and hostages release deal

Brussels – For the first time since January 2025, the people of Gaza are waking up to celebrate in the rubble. Israel and Hamas have agreed on the initial phase of the plan proposed by Donald Trump. It was the American president who made the announcement on the night between October 8-9: all hostages held by Hamas will be released “very soon” and Israel will withdraw its troops to an “agreed line.” 

Hamas has confirmed that it has accepted the terms of the plan negotiated over the past three days in Sharm el-Sheikh, stressing that the agreement includes Israeli withdrawal from the Strip and the exchange of hostages and prisoners. Tel Aviv’s security cabinet will meet today to give its go-ahead: its most extremist ministers oppose it. The Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, wrote in X that “immediately after the hostages return home” the Jewish state should “continue to commit itself with all its might to the true eradication of Hamas.” However, it still seems unlikely that, with the hostages’ families celebrating the announcement, the cabinet will reject the agreement. 

Ceasefire, release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, partial withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza: This is the first phase of the 20-point plan developed by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. It is unclear whether there has been any progress on the thorniest issues – the disarmament of Hamas, the governance of the Strip, and the timing of the handover with the Palestinian Authority. 

Meanwhile, the 20 Israeli hostages believed to be still alive could be returned as early as this weekend, in exchange for the release of some 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. Trump pointed to Monday, October 13, as a possible day for the return of the hostages to Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the agreement as “a great day for Israel.” Hamas called on Trump and the guarantor states of the agreement – Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey – to ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire.

The European Union, which had been left out of the peace talks from the beginning of the conflict, immediately congratulated the four countries that mediated the negotiations. “I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye in achieving this breakthrough,” said Ursula von der Leyen in a statement, echoed by the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa. Not a single word, once again, about Israel’s latest boarding of civilian vessels of the Thousand Madleen to Gaza in international waters.

The EU leader assured that “The EU will continue to support the swift and safe delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” and stressed that “when the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction.​” Another point in the decidedly ambiguous plan is the massive intervention of foreign investors to rebuild the Strip modeled on the “most prosperous modern cities in the Middle East.” The High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, reiterated that “the EU will do everything possible to support the implementation” of Trump’s plan. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to “fully respect” the terms of the agreement.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan… BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/lAUxi1UPYh

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 8, 2025