Palestinians react to the first phase of the ceasefire
Residents of Khan Younis in Gaza react with cheers and cheers in the streets to the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of President Trump’s peace deal. (Credit: Reuters)
In the interview, Trump said “the whole world came together” to make the deal happen, crediting both “luck” and “talent.”
“So many countries have come together that you wouldn’t have thought about,” he said on “Hannity.” “It has been so great for Israel, so great for Muslims, for the Arab countries – and so great for the United States of America. This is more than Gaza – this is peace in the Middle East.”
Leaders around the world welcomed the news, describing it as a potential turning point.
HAMAS ACCEPTS TRUMP PEACE PLAN THAT ENDS TWO YEARS OF WAR IN GAZA, RETURN HOSTAGES
President Donald Trump receives Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2025. (Avi Ohayon (GPO)/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “I have made it clear from the beginning: we will not rest until all our hostages are returned and all our objectives are achieved.”
He thanked his “great friend and ally President Trump” and said Israel “has reached this crucial turning point.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog agreed with X and strongly expressed his support for the deal, while thanking Trump. He added that “when he visits us in the coming days, he will be received with enormous respect, affection and gratitude by the people of Israel.”
“This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the precious families who have not slept for 733 days. This agreement offers an opportunity to recover, heal and open a new horizon of hope for our region,” the message said. “This is a time to honor the heroes among us: our sons and daughters who fought bravely to bring the hostages home; the surviving relatives; the wounded in body and spirit; and all who paid an unbearable price for this historic and vital moment.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog says this agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the precious families who have not slept for 733 days. (AP/Ben Curtis)
TRUMP UNVEILS A 20-POINT PLAN TO ENSURE PEACE IN GAZA, INCLUDING GRANTING SOME HAMAS MEMBERS ‘AMNESTY’
At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the breakthrough and urged its swift implementation, according to Reuters.
“I welcome the announcement of an agreement to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. The United Nations will support its full implementation and recovery efforts. This momentous opportunity should not be lost,” Guterres said.
Under the deal, Hamas is expected to release all 20 surviving hostages this weekend, and the Israeli army is expected to begin withdrawing troops from most of Gaza as part of the initial phase.
Israelis march from Sderot to Gaza’s northern border, calling for the restoration of settlements in the territory, on July 30, 2025, in Israel. (Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The IDF also released a statement on social media, welcoming “the signing of the agreement for the return of the hostages, which was signed overnight.”
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“This is a great day for peace,” Trump said. “For years they talked about peace in the Middle East – now it’s happening.”
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, a figure that has not been independently verified.
