Israel and Hamas signed the "first phase of the peace plan" to end the two-year-old war in Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said all hostages would be released soon and Israel would withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line as the" first step toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace".
"All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!" he said.
According to reports, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed US President Donald Trump a handwritten note during a White House event on Wednesday, urging him to approve a social post related to a Middle East deal.
"You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first," the note, written on White House stationery, read, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Trump later told Fox News's 'Hannity' programme that hostages held in Gaza will probably be released on Monday.
According to an Associated Press report, Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.
"With God's help, we will bring them all home," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media.
Hamas said it had agreed to a deal that will lead to the end of the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the entry of aid into Gaza and the exchange of prisoners for hostages.
Trump to travel to Middle East
Talking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he may travel to the Middle East this weekend, where negotiators are trying to finalise a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
#WATCH | On being asked if he would visit Gaza during his likely visit to the Middle East, US President Donald Trump says, "I might do that. We haven't decided exactly. I will be going to Egypt most likely... I probably will be making the rounds..."
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025
(Source: The White House/… https://t.co/DPpD67dXP5 pic.twitter.com/0orNRc3P0m
"I was just dealing with people from the Middle East on the potential peace deal for the Middle East. 'Peace for the Middle East'. That's a beautiful phrase... I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday... Negotiations are going along well, dealing with Hamas and many of the countries," he said.
"If that's the case, we'll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe Saturday, maybe a little later than Saturday evening, but that seems to be our schedule," he added.
