Trump announces Israel and Hamas have reached ceasefire agreement

President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement after more than a year and three months of a war that erupted following the brutal Oct. 7 massacre.

"We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly," the Republican expressed on Truth Social.

In another post, Trump said: "This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones."

"With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven," he added.

Trump also stressed that his administration will continue to "promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!"

"We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!" Trump concluded.

According to reports, the deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, had earlier been confirmed by two senior officials, one in Washington and one in Jerusalem.

Qatar said the agreement will begin to be implemented next Sunday

Following Trump's remarks, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani officially announced during a press conference the agreement reached by Israel and Hamas, which, he said, will begin to be implemented next Sunday.

Al Tahani thanked Egypt and the United States for the efforts that contributed to the progress of the negotiations. He added that the talks will continue to complete the operational aspects of the treaty.

Biden: "It's a very good afternoon"

US President Joe Biden welcomed the ceasefire treaty. "It’s a very good afternoon, because at long last I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas after more than 15 months of conflict that began with Hezbollah’s brutal massacre on October the 7th," Biden said, wrongly mentioning the group that perpetrated the attack in the south of the Israeli territory in 2023

"More than 15 months of terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people. More than 15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza. Fighting in Gaza will stop. And soon the hostages will return home to their families," he added.

The details of the three phases of the agreement

Israeli newspaper Ynet reported that according to the official summary of the details of the agreement, revealed Wednesday, during the first phase of the treaty, which will last six weeks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will begin a gradual withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and allow Palestinians to return to the north of the coastal enclave.

In addition, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women, men over the age of 50 and the two children of the Bibas family, who became a symbol of the struggle for the release of the abductees.

Hamas will release three hostages per week. First, it will return those who are alive and then the bodies of the deceased.

In addition, according to published details of the agreement, the terrorist group will begin by releasing hostages under the age of 19, then women, and then men over the age of 50.

In return, Israel will release 30 Palestinian terrorists imprisoned in the Jewish state for each hostage released and another 50 prisoners for each soldier released.

Israel will also release all Palestinian female prisoners and those under the age of 19 who were arrested since the Oct. 7 massacre.

The number of Palestinian terrorists released will be between 990 and 1,650, depending on the physical condition of the hostages returning to Israel.

After 16 days, negotiations will begin on the second phase, during which Hamas will release the remaining live hostages and a permanent ceasefire will come into effect and the full withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza will take place.

In the third phase, the bodies of all deceased hostages will be handed over and the reconstruction of Gaza will begin under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the U.N.