Trump-Gaza ceasefire live: Trump says ‘first steps’ of peace deal agreed as Israel prepares to receive hostages from Hamas

Trump says deal in ‘Middle East’ is ‘close’ after being handed a note by Marco Rubio

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US president Donald Trump on Wednesday said Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of a peace deal to pause fighting and begin releasing hostages and prisoners.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Mr Trump wrote on social media.

According to people familiar with the talks, Hamas is expected to release all 20 living hostages within days as Israeli troops pull back from most of Gaza. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”

Hamas confirmed that the agreement includes troop withdrawal, prisoner exchanges, and the entry of aid.

The Israeli military warned civilians not to return to northern Gaza, calling it “a dangerous combat zone.”

UN General Assembly president Annalena Baerbock welcomed the deal as “a ray of hope after more than 700 days of death, destruction and despair”, as she sought “the immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid”.

In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, families of captives chanted “Nobel prize to Trump” while celebrating the announcement.

What we know about the Israel-Hamas deal…so far

• President Donald Trump announced Wednesday Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a peace deal, which includes the release of all 48 remaining hostages, only 20 of whom are believed to still be alive.
• Trump called the agreement “the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “With God’s help we will bring them all home,” referring to the remaining hostages.
• Hamas is expected to release all 20 living hostages as early as this weekend, according to AP sources.

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Rachel Dobkin9 October 2025 01:30

Israeli ambassador says end of hostilities in Gaza depends on first-stage implementation

Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter told CNN that living hostages held by Hamas would be released on Sunday or Monday, with a 72-hour clock for Hamas to make the release beginning once the Israeli Cabinet meets on Thursday afternoon or evening, to approve the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released in the agreement.

Leiter said that Israel hopes the deal will lead to an end to the war, but that will depend on how well it is implemented.

Israeli ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter waits before a joint press conference of US president Donald Trump and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the State Dining Room at the White House (Reuters)

“We hope it leads to a complete cessation of hostilities and a rebuilding of Gaza for the sake of the Gazans and for the sake of Israel,” he said.

“But it’s the first stage, and we’ve got to see the first stage implemented completely in the next few days.”

Leiter, whose eldest son was killed in the war while serving in the Israeli forces, credited Israeli military pressure with bringing Hamas to the negotiating table after two years of conflict.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 05:48

Hostages to be ‘probably’ released Monday, Trump says

In an interview on Fox News, Donald Trump said that Hamas will begin releasing hostages “probably” on Monday.

“This is more than Gaza,” Trump told host Sean Hannity in a telephone interview.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio updates US president Donald Trump on the Gaza proposal during a roundtable (Reuters)

“This is peace in the Middle East.”Trump also said a future Gaza will be a “peaceful, much safer place” and that the US would remain involved to ensure its safety and prosperity.

“Other countries in the area will help it reconstruct because they have tremendous wealth,” Trump said, adding: “We’ll be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.”

Trump confirmed that he spoke to Netanyahu earlier Wednesday night.

The prime minister told him, “I can’t believe it,” according to the president’s retelling.

“I said, ‘Israel cannot fight the world, Bibi, they can’t fight the world,’ and he understands that very well,” Trump said.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 05:45

Hostage families chant ‘Nobel prize to Trump’ in Tel Aviv

Families of hostages and their supporters started chanting “Nobel prize to Trump” as they gathered in the early hours of the morning in Tel Aviv’s hostages square.

People gathered there after the agreement was announced, with freed hostages and families of those still captive cheering, singing and crying at the news.

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip celebrate after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan (AP)A wearing a mask depicting US president Donald Trump waves an Israeli flag with a yellow ribbon in the center (Reuters)

Namita Singh9 October 2025 05:32

Watch: Netanyahu says he hopes to announce hostage release in ‘coming days’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before a peace deal was signed that he hopes to announce hostage release in the “coming days.”

Netanyahu says he hopes to announce hostage release in ‘coming days’

Rachel Dobkin9 October 2025 05:00

Journalists in Gaza City celebrate peace deal

In Gaza City, where bombings had been heard in the early hours of Thursday before news of the deal, a few journalists roamed the dark streets of the city, shouting in jubilation that “the war has ended,” according to a video they posted on social media.

The journalists, laughing and jumping, shouted that most people who remained in the city have no internet and needed to be woken up to hear the news.

Palestinians celebrate on a street following the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of US president Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, in Khan Younis (Reuters)Palestinians celebrate on a street following the news that Israel and Hamas have agreed on Wednesday to the first phase of US president Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza (Reuters)

In the south of Gaza, a group of young men lifted another journalist on their shoulders as he broadcast the news to his channel, celebrating the ceasefire.

The journalist posted a video of the interaction on his social media.

The men also performed a traditional Palestinian dance, Debka, on the streets, while singing.

Communications and internet connection has been badly severed by the war, and large parts of Gaza had no connection, particularly during the night.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 04:52

Israeli military says northern Gaza remains a ‘dangerous combat zone’

The Israeli military warned Palestinians in Gaza against returning north to Gaza City or approaching areas where troops are stationed until further notice.

Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the warning on X, hours after Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phase of the Trump plan to pause the fighting and release hostages and prisoners.

Smoke rises following an Israeli military strike in Gaza City as seen from the central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, 8 October 2025 (AP)

“For your safety, refrain from returning north or approaching areas where (troops) are stationed or operating throughout” Gaza, he said.Adraee said northern Gaza is “still considered a dangerous combat zone”.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 04:49

Israel and Hamas take first steps toward peace — here’s what comes next

US president Donald Trump announced the deal Wednesday evening, calling it ‘the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace’.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 04:43

Trump says Israel and Hamas have agreed to the ‘first phase’ of his peace plan

US president Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his peace plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, in a major breakthrough in the two-year-old war.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on social media.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts after US president Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire (Reuters)

Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages in the coming days, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media, “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”

Hamas said separately that the deal would ensure the withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as allow for the entry of aid and exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Namita Singh9 October 2025 04:33

Hamas shares gratitude for Trump after ‘first phase’ of peace deal reached

Hamas has shared its gratitude for President Donald Trump’s role in reaching the “first phase” of a peace deal between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.

Trump announced via Truth Social Wednesday, “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”

In a subsequent press release, Hamas said, “We also value the efforts of US President Donald Trump, who seeks to bring about a definitive end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the occupation from the Gaza Strip.”

Rachel Dobkin9 October 2025 04:30

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