Celebrations erupt in Gaza, Israel over ceasefire deal

Israel and Hamas agreed to swap the estimated 20 hostages still alive in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails under a deal Donald Trump predicted would bring peace to the Middle East.

Announced by the president online around 2am Jerusalem time, the “first phase” of a ceasefire agreement triggered night-time street celebrations in the Gaza Strip and a plaza in Tel Aviv known as hostages square where relatives maintain a vigil. Mr Trump indicated he planned to travel to Israel on Sunday or Monday, around the time the hostages would be released after two years in captivity.

The deal will be signed on Thursday around 8pm Australian Eastern Standard Time, Agence France-Presse reported, and negotiations for a second phase would begin “immediately,” according to Hamas.

The signing is expected to take place in the Egyptian town of Sharm El-Sheik where talks have been held between Hamas and Israel. Among those present are Jared Kushner, Mr Trump’s son in law, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Qatari Prime Minister. The talks focused on the implementation of a 20-point proposal presented by Mr Trump last month.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended an invitation to Mr Trump to attend the signing.

Few details were made public of the ceasefire deal. It is unclear if Hamas has accepted Israel’s demand it disarm and give up power in Gaza, or if Israel will withdraw soldiers from Gaza and allow aid to enter unhindered, and the formation of an international body to govern Gaza if Hamas steps down.

Hamas said it agreed after “responsible and serious negotiations” over the US plan, and the terms include an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

White House interruption

Earlier, at the White House, Mr Trump was hosting a discussion on the far-left Antifa movement when interrupted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who handed him a note and whispered in his ear. The room, filled with journalists, erupted with questions before Mr Trump revealed the contents of the note, which sought his approval for a social media post announcing the agreement.

“I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East,” Mr Trump said. “They’re going to need me pretty quickly, so I will take a couple more questions.”

Mr Trump took a few more questions before being rushed to the Oval Office.

“This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” he then posted on his Truth Social site.

“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. All Parties will be treated fairly!”

‘Relieved and heartbroken’

The breakthrough was reached two years and two days after Hamas invaded Israel, killed more than 1200 people and took 251 to Gaza as hostages. Israel’s retaliatory war cost 67,000 lives in Gaza, according to Hamas authorities.

The president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, told The Nightly: “I feel both relieved and heartbroken. Relieved that some families will finally embrace their loved ones, but heartbroken for those who never will.

“Even in this moment of hope, it’s impossible to escape the sense that something fundamental has shifted for Jews everywhere and we aren’t returning to what was.”

Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong thanked Mr Trump for his work and promised Australia would contribute to a “just and enduring two-state solution”. “Australia strongly supports the plan’s commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza,” they said in a written statement.

The Coalition, which criticised the government for recognising Palestinian statehood at the United Nations last month, praised America’s “strong leadership” and claimed vindication for its pro-Israeli approach.

“This development also underscores what the Coalition has been saying for weeks – now is not a time to protest, it is a time to provide our support to this effort which has delivered the real prospect of peace after two years of conflict,” leader Sussan Ley and shadow foreign minister Michaelia Cash said.

While Australia, France, Britain, Canada and other Western countries put pressure on Israel, Mr Trump supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu diplomatically and militarily. After Thursday’s agreement, “the two had a very emotional and warm conversation, congratulating each other on the historic achievement,” according to the Israeli government.

Cabinet approval

Mr Netanyahu, who promised last week to continue the military assault on Gaza if Hamas did not accept a deal, said he would hold a cabinet meeting to approve the deal and “bring all our dear hostages home.”

“A great day for Israel,” he wrote on social media in Hebrew. “I thank from the depths of my heart President Trump and his team for their mobilization for this sacred mission of releasing our hostages.”

The Israel Defence Forces are preparing to receive the hostages at Camp Re’im near the Gaza border, according to the Walla news site. The deal covers the bodies of 28 hostages who died in Gaza. It could take ten days or longer to locate them, according to negotiators.

Hamas has submitted a list of 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans jailed during the war it wants released, including Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder and terrorism. The group, which Australia considers a terrorist organisation, has demanded the return of the bodies of former leaders Yahya and Muhammad Sinwar.

Some Palestinians expressed concerns. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha, wrote online: “It sounds like a pause of bloodshed for a few days or weeks!” “The agreement signed should be emphatically about a permanent ceasefire.”

Other ceasefires that led to the release of hostages failed to hold. Both sides blamed the other.

At the United Nations, where Israel is frequently condemned, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement one hour before the ceasefire was announced complaining life in Gaza was “beyond atrocious & beyond inhumane”. “Once again, I call for a permanent ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages & full, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza,” he wrote on X.

After Mr Trump’s announcement he called on all parties to “abide fully” by its terms.

Reconstruction

The US President called into Fox News on Wednesday night (US time) to speak with Sean Hannity about the deal. He said Gaza would be rebuilt with support from other countries in the region and the US.

“It has been blown to pieces, this is just not by Israel, this is over years and years and years, it has been heartache,” he said. “Gaza, we believe, is going to be a much safer place, and it’s going to be a place that reconstructs. We will be involved in helping them make it successful and helping it stay peaceful.”

Hamas had sought assurances from Mr Trump and mediators that Israel would not resume military operations in Gaza after hostages were released.

Mr Trump’s plan called for an international body led by Mr Trump himself and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gaza’s post-war administration.

Arab countries, which back the plan, said it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Mr Netanyahu says will never happen.

Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.

Hamas has said it was ready to relinquish Gaza governance, but only to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim countries, as per a longstanding Egyptian proposal.

It rejected any role for Mr Blair or foreign control of Gaza.