Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire in Donald Trump’s Middle East peace deal: Live updates

The talks have been taking place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh

Talks to end the war in Gaza were bolstered by the arrival of senior figures from Israel and the United States on Wednesday after Hamas handed over its lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a swap.

With President Trump’s 20-point plan appearing closer than any previous effort to halt the war, delegations were upgrading their presence at the talks, launched on Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, sources familiar with the talks said, and an Israeli official said Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was also now there.

They were expected to join the talks, along with the prime minister of longstanding mediator Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani.

These are the jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square this morning as Israel prepares to welcome back Israeli hostages, alive and dead, from Hamas.

Israel expects its hostages to start being released on Saturday, after Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of a Gaza deal, an Israeli government spokesperson told Reuters.

The spokesperson did not say whether the government expects all 48 remaining hostages, living and deceased, to be released at once

Israel’s finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said he opposed the Gaza ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas, insisting that he would vote against it.

Writing on X, Smotrich said:

There is immense fear of the consequences of emptying the prisons and releasing the next generation of terrorist leaders who will do everything to continue to pour rivers of Jewish blood here, God forbid. For this reason alone, we cannot join in short-sighted celebrations or vote in favour of the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to convene a meeting of his security cabinet and government before any deal is approved.

Politicians across the globe expressed hope for peace and urged Israel and Hamas to fulfil their commitments after Donald Trump announced the parties had agreed to the ‘first phase’ of a deal signalling a major breakthrough in the two-year war in Gaza.

Let’s see how they reacted to the landmark pact:

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

The United Nations will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney

I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families. After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable. Canada calls on all parties to swiftly implement all agreed terms and to work towards a just and lasting peace.

• Argentine President Javier Milei

I want to take the opportunity to say that I will sign the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to international peace. Any other leader with similar achievements would have received it a long time ago.

• French President Emmanuel Macron

This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution. France stands ready to contribute to this goal. We will discuss it this afternoon in Paris with our international partners.

• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

We welcome the agreement on the first phase of President Trump’s peace plan. This is also a reflection of the strong leadership of PM Netanyahu. We hope the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza will bring respite to them and pave the way for lasting peace.

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

The announcement of an agreement that will bring an end to the genocide in Gaza is a historic opportunity to secure lasting peace in the Middle East. President Trump’s leadership throughout the process of dialogue and negotiations reflects his unwavering commitment to world peace. The resolute and wise leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Turkiye are also to be applauded for their untiring efforts to negotiate a deal.

Sir Keir Starmer hailed Israel and Hamas’ landmark agreement to phase one of a peace deal as a ‘moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world’.

Responding to the news, Sir Keir, who is currently visiting India, said:

I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt all around the world, but particularly for the hostages, their families, and for the civilian population of Gaza, who have all endured unimaginable suffering over the last two years.

The ‘tireless diplomatic efforts’ of the US, as well as Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have been crucial in moving towards peace, the Prime Minister said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his government today to approve the agreement which will mark the start of a ceasefire in Gaza.

In a statement, Netanyahu said:

A big day for Israel. Tomorrow I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home. I thank the heroic IDF soldiers and all the security forces — thanks to their courage and sacrifice, we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbours.

Meanwhile Hamas also said it valued Trump’s efforts as members called on the President to ensure Israel fully implements its obligations as part of the agreement

In a statement, Hamas said:

We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and throughout our homeland and the diaspora, who have demonstrated unparalleled honor, courage, and heroism — confronting the fascist occupation projects that targeted them and their national rights. These sacrifices and steadfast positions have thwarted the Israeli occupation’s schemes of subjugation and displacement. We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.

Palestinians and the families of Israeli hostages broke into wild celebrations today at news of a pact between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza and return home all the Israeli hostages, both living and dead.

In Gaza, where most of the more than 2 million people have been displaced by Israeli bombing, young men applauded in the devastated streets, even as Israeli strikes continued in some parts of the enclave.

‘Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,’ said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

‘I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed. Thank you and all the love to those who stood with us.’

In Tel Aviv’s so-called Hostages Square, where families of those seized in the Hamas attack that sparked the war two years ago have gathered to demand the return of loved ones, Einav Zaugauker, the mother of a hostage, was ecstatic.

‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t explain what I’m feeling … it’s crazy,’ she said, speaking in the red glow of a celebratory flare.

Donald Trump told the families of Israeli hostages their loved ones will be returning home on Monday after Israel and Hamas agreed to phase one of a peace deal.

Under Trump’s deal, Hamas plans to release all 20 remaining hostages in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.

Last night, the US president spoke to the families of those held captive by the terror organisation during a phone call with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

With Trump on speakerphone, Lutnick asked the families: ‘You have the best crowd in the world, what do you have to say to President Trump?’ The entire group of about a dozen people responded: ‘Thank you!’

‘Thank you very much everybody,’ responded Trump, as one of the family members exclaimed: ‘You did it!’

This is the moment Donald Trump learned Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first phase of his landmark deal for peace in Gaza.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupted a roundtable Trump was having in the State Dining Room to deliver him an urgent note

‘I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly,’ Trump told attendees.

The frantically scrawled note was caught on camera.

It read: ‘Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first.’

At the same event, Trump confirmed reports that he would head to the Middle East as soon as this weekend.

He told reporters he would likely travel to Egypt , where negotiations are happening, but expressed an openness to traveling to Gaza as well.

Good morning and welcome to the Daily Mail’s live coverage as Donald Trump announced Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of his plan for peace in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause fighting in Gaza so that the remaining hostages there can be freed in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, accepting elements of a plan put forward by the Trump administration.

Writing on his Truth Social page, Trump said: ‘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.

Israel and Hamas separately confirmed the contours of their deal, which drew celebratory gatherings from hostage families in Tel Aviv and cautious optimism from some in Gaza.

Hamas intends to release all 20 living hostages in a matter of days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.

Join us for live updates on the deal throughout the day.