BREAKING NEWS
US President Donald Trump announces historic Gaza ceasefire deal, with Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of a 20-point peace plan.
At approximately 10:00 AM EST today, US President Donald Trump revealed on social media that Israel and Hamas have "signed off on the first phase" of his proposed peace plan. According to Trump, this means that all hostages will be released soon, and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza to a predetermined line.
The agreement comes after three days of indirect negotiations in Egypt, marking a significant breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict. The deal is seen as a major step towards a "Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace" between Israel and Hamas.
Background: The Gaza ceasefire deal follows two years of intense fighting that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing over 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 67,100 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The current status is that all parties have agreed to the first phase of the peace plan, but details about what this entails remain unclear. Further negotiations are expected to take place in the coming days and weeks to finalize the agreement.
This is a developing story. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
*This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Based on reporting from Bbc.*
