Israel-Hamas Agreement: First Phase of Gaza Peace Plan Reached

Agreement Reached on Gaza Peace Plan

• 🤝 Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan negotiated in Cairo, Egypt.
• 🕊️ This initial phase involves the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Details of the First Phase

• ⏳ A 24-hour clock will begin for Israel to retreat to an agreed line within Gaza after a government meeting.
• ⏰ Following Israel's retreat, a 72-hour period will commence for Hamas to release all hostages.
• 🎯 The agreement is the first phase of a 20-point peace plan previously outlined by the White House.

Public Reaction and Hope

• 🎉 In Tel Aviv, Hostage Square is filled with people celebrating the potential end of the conflict, marking a significant shift from previous protests.
• 🙏 Families of hostages and many Israelis have long protested, demanding a deal to bring hostages home and end the war.
• 😥 In Gaza, colleagues report a similar feeling of relief and hope that the war may be concluding.

White House Response and Next Steps

• 🇺🇸 The President called the agreement historic and unprecedented, crediting international negotiators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
• 📝 The President announced the agreement via a Truth Social post after receiving a note during a White House roundtable.
• 🇮🇱 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invited the President to address Israel's parliament, the Knesset.

Future Challenges

• 🚧 More difficult elements of the proposal, such as Hamas disarming and who will govern Gaza, still need to be addressed in later phases.
• 🌍 The President believes Gaza will become a safer place and will be reconstructed with the help of other countries in the region.