Israel and Hamas agree to the first phase of Trump's peace plan for Gaza
- Peace agreement between Israel and Hamas
- Handing over of hostages and partial withdrawal of forces
- Message from President Donald Trump
- Netanyahu and Hamas response
- The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) welcomes the peace agreement
- International optimism
Peace agreement between Israel and Hamas
Israel and Hamas have sealed the peace agreement proposed by US President Donald Trump. According to Israeli media reports, the ceasefire and hostage exchange could begin this Saturday, while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) carry out a partial withdrawal to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
At present, it is expected that, of the 48 Israeli hostages, those who are still alive will be handed over on Saturday, and those who have died on Monday. Estimates and information provided by the FBI and Mossad put the number of hostages who are still alive at 20 and those who have died at 28.
Handing over of hostages and partial withdrawal of forces
The agreement, which will benefit both sides, has finally been approved by the terrorist group, the last party that had yet to accept the terms and conditions that Trump initially proposed to Arab and Muslim countries.
Donald Trump learned the news through a handwritten note from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: his peace plan had been successful. At that moment, he indicated that he would only answer two more questions at the press conference, hinting that he might travel to the Middle East to be present at the signing of the agreements for his peace plan.
Message from President Donald Trump
‘I will travel on Sunday or Saturday night,’ Trump said after reading Marco Rubio's note, which read ‘very soon,’ referring to the fact that the agreement was about to be sealed.
He later confirmed via his X account and on his social network Truth Social: 'I am proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line as a first step towards solid, lasting and permanent peace. All parties will be treated fairly!'
In view of Donald Trump's strong insistence on saving the lives of the hostages and reuniting them with their loved ones, the associations and forums representing the families of the Israeli hostages have issued a joint statement expressing ‘their deepest gratitude to President Donald Trump,’ but still expressing some concern.
Nevertheless, the agreement is expected to be signed this morning in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. However, it will not come into force until Benjamin Netanyahu's government approves the plan at around 19:00 UTC. At that meeting, the Prime Minister formally asked Trump to address the Knesset, the name given to Israel's parliament.
Netanyahu and Hamas response
‘The signing of the peace agreement is a diplomatic and national success. A moral victory for the State of Israel,’ the Israeli Prime Minister said on social media after hearing the news.
Hamas also announced through its official channels that the signing of the first phase of the peace plan ‘ends the war,’ but they remain insistent that Netanyahu will not order any more bombings and that the IDF will not violate the space from which they must withdraw immediately and gradually.
Meanwhile, the actual maps and positions that the IDF will have to abandon remain unknown, although they insist that they will remain indefinitely in a perimeter that has yet to be determined. In this regard, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that these details will soon be known.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) welcomes the peace agreement
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) welcomes the temporary agreement reached a few hours ago between the Israeli and Gaza delegations, which will allow the release of the 48 hostages who have been held captive for two years in the Gaza tunnels, as well as the cessation of the war and the return of peace.
The FCJE welcomes this significant breakthrough, which is seen as a key step towards ending the suffering of the people in Israel and Gaza. We extend our sincere sympathy to the families of the hostages and to all the victims of the conflict, and hope that this agreement marks the beginning of a new phase of understanding and respect between the two sides.
The FCJE reaffirms its dedication to peace, freedom and coexistence, principles that should guide all peoples towards a more positive future.
International optimism
World leaders have expressed their delight at the signing of the peace plan proposed by Trump, describing it as ‘the most important news of the year’.
From heads of state, secretaries-general and prime ministers to presidents around the world, they have expressed their gratitude after learning that Hamas, the last contender yet to accept, had confirmed its approval of the first phase of the peace plan, which involves the release of Israeli hostages who have been held in the Gaza Strip for more than two years. Some of the reactions have been as follows:
Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
'I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by the President of the United States. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to achieve this much-needed breakthrough.
I urge all parties involved to fully comply with the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be guaranteed. The fighting must cease once and for all.'
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
'I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, based on the proposal put forward by Donald Trump. I commend the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to achieve this breakthrough. I am also encouraged by the support of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Now, all parties must fully comply with the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end.'
Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (EU)
‘The agreement on the first phase of the Gaza peace agreement marks a significant breakthrough. This is an important diplomatic achievement and a real opportunity to end a devastating war and free all hostages. The EU will do everything it can to support its implementation.’
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Morocco
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad indicated that the Kingdom of Morocco expresses its high appreciation for the sustained efforts and personal involvement of President Donald Trump, which have contributed decisively to this hopeful outcome, while saluting the continued efforts of all the mediators.
The communiqué adds that the Kingdom of Morocco calls on all parties to fully implement this agreement, so as to preserve human lives, release hostages and prisoners, allow the rapid and sufficient entry of humanitarian aid, start the reconstruction process and open the way to a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
The Kingdom of Morocco, whose Sovereign chairs the Al-Qods Committee, reaffirms its continued attachment to the two-state solution as the inescapable basis for achieving a just and lasting peace in the region, through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State on the borders of 4 June 1967, with Al-Qods Al-Charif as its capital, including the Gaza Strip, living side by side with the State of Israel in security and peace".
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany
'The first steps of the agreement between Israel and Hamas are encouraging. They offer new hope: for the hostages and their families, for the people of Gaza and for the entire region. For the first time in a long time, there is a real prospect of peace in the region. We urge all parties to keep their promises, end the war and pave the way for lasting peace. Germany will continue to strongly support this process.'
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
'Great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza and for the entire region. I welcome the agreement reached last night for the release of the hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza, and I commend the efforts of President Donald Trump, as well as the Qatari, Egyptian and Turkish mediators who helped make this happen.
I call on all parties to strictly respect its terms. This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution.'
Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
'I welcome the news that an agreement has been reached on the first phase of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza. This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world, but especially by the hostages, their families and the civilian population of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable suffering over the past two years.
I am grateful for the tireless diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States, with the support of our regional partners, to achieve this crucial first step. Now this agreement must be implemented in full, without delay, and must be accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on vital humanitarian aid to Gaza.'
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey
'I am very pleased that the talks between Hamas and Israel held in Sharm El Sheikh, to which we contributed as Turkey, have resulted in a ceasefire in Gaza. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to US President Trump, who demonstrated the political will necessary to encourage the Israeli government to accept a ceasefire, and especially to our sister countries, Qatar and Egypt, which provided significant support in reaching an agreement.
We will also continue our struggle until an independent, sovereign and geographically integrated Palestinian state is established in Palestine, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.'
Dimitri Peskov, official spokesperson for the Kremlin, Russia
‘The agreement must now be fully implemented, without delay, and accompanied by the immediate lifting of all restrictions on vital humanitarian aid to Gaza.’