Israel, Hamas agree to phase 1 of Trump peace deal to release hostages, begin ceasefire

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the Israel-Hamas peace deal as a "welcome development" in a statement issued after President Donald Trump announced the plan that includes the release of all hostages.

But the Democratic congressman's statement does not mention Trump or credit the administration for its involvement in helping to broker the deal between Israel and Hamas.

"The peace agreement that has been reached is an extremely welcome development, freeing the remaining hostages and bringing an end to years of pain, suffering and destruction. It is my hope that phase one will be fully implemented, the hostages reunited with loved ones, sustained humanitarian relief surged into Gaza, Hamas completely disarmed and the path toward a just and lasting peace in the region firmly established," Jeffries said in the statement.

"The world will be a better place with a safe and secure Israel living side by side in peace and prosperity with the Palestinian people able to achieve the dignity and self-determination they deserve. We must all recommit to achieve that outcome."

Maria Corina Machado has been announced as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, even as many in the U.S. have called for President Donald Trump to win the award, particularly in light of the recently announced Israel-Hamas peace deal his administration worked to help broker.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 to Maria Corina Machado 'for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,'" according to nobelprize.org.

President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, thanked her father for his role in introducing hope for peace between Israel and Hamas.

"I want to thank my father @realDonaldTrump for his unbending leadership in bringing real hope for lasting peace to a region that has known so much pain and heartbreak," she wrote.

"Deeply proud of my husband @jaredkushner and Steve Witkoff, whose vision and perseverance remind us that even in the darkest moments, progress is possible. Their tireless work has given new hope to families who dream of safety, dignity, and opportunity," she continued.

But she noted that she will reserve full celebration.

"I won’t fully celebrate until every hostage has been returned and peace prevails. But I hold on to hope that one day we will dance again, and maybe even dance together. Praying for healing, unity, and lasting peace."

The sudden announcement that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire Wednesday night reignited a once-far-fetched question in world politics: could President Donald Trump win the Nobel Peace Prize?

If the ceasefire holds, it would signify a landmark achievement months in the making for a president who has branded himself a global peacemaker. Trump has long insisted he deserves the prize but doubts the committee would ever give it to him.

"I'm not politicking for it," Trump said when asked about the prospect during the Aug. 8 signing of a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House. "I have a lot of people that are."

The deadline for this year’s nominations was January 31. Some proposals for Trump came in before then, but many arrived after the cutoff date. If he does not win when the prize is announced Friday, he could be considered again next year.

Read more about Trump’s chances of winning the honorary prize.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips.

A document obtained by Israeli Channel 11 political correspondent Gili Cohen outlines President Donald Trump’s “Comprehensive End of Gaza War” plan, detailing a step-by-step framework to end fighting, withdraw Israeli forces, and secure the release of all hostages within days.

The first step calls for President Donald Trump to announce the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and confirm that all parties have agreed to implement the steps required to conclude it.

According to step two, “The war will immediately end upon the approval of the Israeli government. All military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment and targeting operations, will be suspended. During the 72-hour period, aerial surveillance will be suspended over the areas which IDF withdraws from.”

The document states that full humanitarian aid and relief operations, as outlined in the proposal and in the January 19, 2025 agreement with Joe Mangano, will commence immediately.

The fourth step states, “IDF will withdraw to lines agreed upon as per map ‘X’ attached herewith, and this will be completed after President Trump’s announcement and within 24 hours of Israeli government approval. The IDF will not return to areas that have been withdrawn from, as long as Hamas fully implements the deal.”

Within 72 hours of the IDF’s withdrawal, “all Israeli hostages, living and deceased, held in Gaza will be released.”

The document then details several subsections related to the release of hostages. For instance, “As soon as IDF completes its withdrawal, Hamas will commence investigating the status of hostages and collect all information pertaining to them. Hamas will compile the results of its findings through the information-sharing mechanism…Israel will provide information on the Palestinian prisoners and detainees from the Gaza Strip held in Israel.”

Within the same 72-hour window, Hamas will release all living hostages, including those held by Palestinian factions, as well as the remains of deceased hostages in its possession and those held by other groups in Gaza. Hamas also agrees to share, within those 72 hours, all information about any remaining hostages or deceased individuals, while Israel will provide details on the remains of deceased Gazans held in the Gaza Strip.

The document concludes by calling for a task force of representatives from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and other nations to follow up on the implementation and coordination of the peace deal.

At a Thursday night meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to reflect on the negotiations that led to a historic deal to bring home Israeli hostages and end the war with Hamas.

Netanyahu commended Trump and his envoys for their key role in brokering a deal to return all Israeli hostages, living and dead. He said the agreement marked the culmination of two years of conflict, crediting the mix of military and diplomatic pressure — and the courage of Israeli soldiers — for isolating Hamas and making the deal possible.

“We couldn't have achieved it without the extraordinary help of President Trump and his team, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner,” the prime minister said.

Witkoff, who helped craft the Trump peace framework, said Netanyahu’s resolve and timing were crucial to sealing the ceasefire and hostage release. He said Hamas had been cornered by sustained Israeli pressure, leaving the group with no choice but to agree.

“I don't think we get to this place without Prime Minister Netanyahu playing it out,” Witkoff said.

Kushner said bringing home the hostages has long been one of President Trump’s top priorities and credited the Israeli Defense Forces for their bravery and success in operations across Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. He also cited Netanyahu’s discipline during the negotiations, saying his alignment with Trump on the final outcome was key to achieving the deal.

“Between you and President Trump, you had a lot of alignment on what the end stage should be,” Kushner said.

With Israel’s approval of Phase 1 of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, the countdown is underway for the release of hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces have 24 hours to pull back to the agreed line inside Gaza, retaining control of about 53% of the territory until Phase 2 begins.

After the 24-hour period, Hamas will have 72 hours to release all remaining hostages — 20 alive and 28 deceased — meaning all are expected to be freed by Tuesday.

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.

The U.S. plans utilize up to 200 troops already in the Middle East to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team involving various nations, a senior official told Fox News.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Up to 200 U.S. personnel, who are already stationed at CENTCOM, will be tasked with monitoring the peace agreement in Israel, and they will work with other international forces on the ground."

Centcom Admiral Bradley Cooper will oversee the operation to ensure there are no violations, and the team will likely consist of Egyptian, Qatari and other armed forces in the region.

The officials also wanted to emphasize that none of the U.S. troops are expected to go into Gaza. Instead, the troops are going to be located in Israel to help create a Joint Control Center. 

The Jerusalem Post’s cover on Friday will show a silhouette of President Donald Trump, with the headline, “HE’S BRINGING THEM HOME.”

Within the silhouette, the publication put images of the Israeli hostages that are expected to be released as part of a deal reached overnight that could lead to peace in the Middle East.

Under the image is a quote from former Prime Minister Golda Meir.

“Perhaps it is early yet to say ‘in the aftermath of the war,’ for we are actually living under a cease-fire in a war which has not yet ended,” Meir is quoted as saying on Nov. 13, 1973.

Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana lauded President Donald Trump for securing the release of Israeli hostages and brokering a historic regional peace deal, inviting him to deliver an address before Israel’s parliament — the first by a sitting U.S. president in nearly two decades.

“This victory would not have been possible without the sacrifice of our brave soldiers, the resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the close partnership you have forged with him – and with the one and only Jewish State – throughout your life,” Ohana wrote to Trump. “From recognizing Jerusalem as our eternal capital and moving the American Embassy there, to affirming our sovereignty over the Golan Heights, from creating the historic Abraham Accords to eliminating Iran’s nuclear sites, and now to this momentous day: you have demonstrated that under your leadership, America is not only a military superpower but a moral superpower as well – and that peace comes through strength.

“The people of Israel regard you as the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history,” Ohana continued. “It is therefore my profound honor and privilege to officially invite you to deliver a formal address to the nation before the Knesset.

“Your speech would be the first by a sitting U.S. President since President George W. Bush’s visit in 2008 – a deeply meaningful gesture of our eternal gratitude for your once-in-a-century leadership and for the unbreakable alliance between the State of Israel and the United States of America,” Ohana added. “Israel awaits The Peace President.”

In the days leading up to the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, President Donald Trump combined regional pressure, public messaging, and trusted backchannel diplomacy to turn a faltering negotiation into a breakthrough.

A senior White House official told Fox News that Trump’s good relations with Qataris were a baseline factor in reaching a deal, but the Israeli strikes in Doha generated a lot of pressure on Hamas from Arab States.

Trump’s post on Truth Social on Sunday, giving Hamas a deadline to agree or face devastation was taken seriously and helped turn things around, the official explained. Before the post, the Trump administration was hearing that Hamas would reject the deal and would put efforts back to the 10-yard line, “like we had been so many times.”

Witkoff reportedly said the unrest from the Doha strikes could be used for good because the Arab world did not want the unrest to spill into a regional conflict affecting their countries, nor did they want Iran to get involved.

Trump also reportedly used the strikes to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into compliance.

Additionally, Trump used public opinion on Israel and mounting political pressure to demonstrate Israelis want the war to end, telling Netanyahu, “ending the war is a win for you.”

The official noted that having Jared Kushner was a huge benefit because he brought an additional level of trust.

Kushner, the official added, has good credibility with Israelis and the Arab world, dating back to the Abraham Accords. At points during negotiations, Kushner worked with Israel and Hamas to craft statements to ensure things did not go sideways, knowing both sides have to appease their bases but keep an open dialogue.

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich contributed to this report.

Fighting continues to occur in Gaza, despite Israel and Hamas striking a deal to end the war and have all hostages returned.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Thursday evening that its troops struck a Hamas terrorist cell in the northern Gaza Strip that was operating within close proximity to IDF troops.

The IDF said the Hamas terrorists posed an immediate threat to the troops operating in the area.

Palestinian reports say four people were killed and dozens of others are still buried under the rubble.

Fox News’ Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

While a peace deal has been reached to end the Israel-Gaza conflict and have all the hostages released, it does not appear it will be approved unanimously by lawmakers in Israel.

The Times of Israel reported that Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister said his Otzma Yehudit party will vote against the first phase of the ceasefire deal which stipulates all 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza will be released in exchange of Palestinian prisoners.

Ben-Gvir also warned that while it has no current plans to leave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, the party will “bring down the government” if Hamas is not dismantled.

Also reportedly opposing the deal is far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and his Religious Zionism party.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb congratulated President Donald Trump on reaching a peace deal in the Middle East, calling it potentially a “huge deal.”

Trump and Stubb met at the White House when the president of Finland praised the Trump administration’s efforts to reach peace in the Middle East.

“I want to congratulate you for what we have seen in the past 24 hours in Gaza. Thank you. I think it's a historic deal,” Stubb said. “I went through the 20 points. It's almost like the best record. You really see all the key elements.

“If someone would have said a few weeks back that you and your team are able to push us to a position where there will be a ceasefire, an exchange of prisoners, hostages, and then a pullback. I would not have believed it,” he added. “But...this is what diplomacy is at its best, and I think that's a potentially huge deal. So congratulations.”

President Donald Trump’s envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Thursday evening with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem to discuss an agreement aimed at ending the war with Hamas.

During the meeting, the three men discussed the framework Kushner and Witkoff helped negotiate, which is expected to both end the fighting and secure the release of hostages.

Herzog reportedly expressed his deep appreciation to Trump, Kushner and Witkoff for their pivotal role in bringing the hostages home and advancing Israel’s security. He also praised their efforts to strengthen Israeli well-being and help pave the way toward greater cooperation in the Middle East.

Kushner and Witkoff are also scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night.

Fox News' Yonat Friling contributed to this report.

Former President Barack Obama said Thursday that the world should be “encouraged and relieved” that an end to the Israel-Gaza conflict appears near, urging Israelis and Palestinians to seize the moment to rebuild and pursue a lasting peace.

“After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight; that those hostages still being held will be reunited with their families; and that vital aid can start reaching those inside Gaza whose lives have been shattered,” Obama wrote on X.

“More than that, though, it now falls on Israelis and Palestinians, with the support of the U.S. and the entire world community, to begin the hard task of rebuilding Gaza – and to commit to a process that, by recognizing the common humanity and basic rights of both peoples, can achieve a lasting peace,” he added.

Massive projections of the American and Israeli flags were illuminated on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City in celebration of the Gaza peace deal on Thursday.

Images out of Israel show crowds celebrating the agreement, which entails Hamas releasing all 48 of its remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Donald Trump for his assistance in the negotiations earlier Thursday.

President Donald Trump's peace plan for the Middle East was praised by MSNBC panelists Jon Meacham, a presidential historian, and David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist, on Thursday. 

"As ever, it depends on how the chapter ends. But the beginning of this chapter is remarkable. And one of the things about honesty and citizenship and a sense of, I would say, maturity about what people in a democracy should do is even if someone with whom you disagree about 99 things, does the 100 really well, you should say so, because that's what intellectual honesty is. And so all credit to President Trump and his, as you say, unconventional team," Meacham told MSNBC's "Morning Joe." 

Hamas agreed this week to a peace deal pushed by Trump to end the war in Gaza and return the hostages, two years after the terror group attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

Ignatius told the co-hosts that Trump was able to do what former President Joe Biden was not.

"I can remember in the month or so after Oct. 7, an Israeli senior official saying to me, ‘We are so disoriented and traumatized by this war, the United States is going to have to make decisions for us.’ Joe Biden could never do that, and Donald Trump was able to do it — did it at the decisive moment — when he said, essentially, this war must end and Israel cannot annex the West Bank, which many right-wing Israelis wanted," he said. 

Ignatius said Trump's team, including Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, reached out to the Arabs and developed important relationships.

"What’s interesting about that, Joe and Mika, is that it took ideas from all over the Arab world — from the UAE, from Qatar, from Saudi Arabia, from Tony Blair in Britain — and pulled them all together into a single plan with the U.S. weight of support behind it. That’s how we got here. And in each case, it’s Trump deciding these people, endless combatants, cannot do it on their own. ‘I’m going to intervene forcefully.’ Tragically, that is something that Joe Biden, for all his desire for peace, wasn’t able to do," he said. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News' Hanna Panreck