Israel and Hamas have agreed to hostage release deal as part of phased peace plan, Trump announces
Hostages could be released as soon as this weekend, according to published reports
A woman reacts while listening to speeches by family members of hostages during a solidarity protest in Tel Aviv on October 4. Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images
All remaining living hostages taken on Oct. 7, 2023 could be released this weekend as part of a multi-phase deal proposed by President Trump, with the first phase agreed to by Israel and Hamas, according to the president and published reports.
The plan, if adopted in full, would eventually end the two-year war that started when Hamas killed almost 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped about 250. Israel’s attacks on the Gaza strip, where the hostages were taken, have since killed at least 66,000 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry says, and left much of the enclave in ruins.
The new deal would require Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the 20 living hostages and approximately 28 remaining dead hostages; two previous agreements followed the same parameters in November 2023 and earlier this year.
Israel agreed to pause its military offensive late last week when Hamas indicated a willingness to release the hostages and consider the peace plan, assuming details could be negotiated. This new agreement would also require Israel to pull troops back to an agreed-upon line.
The deal was announced by Trump on Wednesday evening and negotiated in Egypt, where his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived hours before.
The Israeli government must approve the deal, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to introduce for ratification on Thursday.
This is a developing story.
