FIRST PHASE OF GAZA PEACE PLAN APPROVED, HOSTAGES TO BE FREED

In a monumental announcement that has stunned the world and vindicated his promise to restore peace through strength, President Donald J. Trump confirmed on October 8 that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a landmark peace plan aimed at halting hostilities and securing the release of hostages and prisoners.

The development marks a powerful moment in Trump’s renewed foreign policy legacy, coming exactly two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, when radical Islamist terrorists slaughtered approximately 1,200 innocent Israelis and kidnapped 251 more — an attack that ignited Israel’s ongoing war to eliminate Hamas’s terror network in Gaza.

After three days of intensive negotiations in Egypt, mediated under Trump’s direction, both sides have now signed the initial stage of a 20-point Trump Peace Plan, a roadmap that could reshape the Middle East for generations.

“This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” President Trump declared in a statement posted on Truth Social.

According to Israeli officials, Hamas still holds 48 hostages inside Gaza. Under the terms of the agreement, there will be a simultaneous release of both Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, paired with a gradual Israeli military repositioning within the enclave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet is expected to meet Thursday to formally ratify the plan. A temporary ceasefire will begin only after approval by the Israeli legislature, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said Wednesday that once ratified, the agreement will mark the end of active hostilities and open the way for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza. Trump’s peace blueprint ensures that aid distribution will be strictly monitored by the United Nations, the Red Crescent, and other neutral bodies, with the Rafah crossing functioning under pre-established international protocols.

The first phase focuses on rebuilding critical infrastructure in Gaza — hospitals, utilities, and debris removal — all at levels set in the January 19, 2025 accord, another Trump-brokered milestone that laid the groundwork for this moment.

While this breakthrough covers only a portion of Trump’s comprehensive 20-point plan, discussions are continuing over Hamas’s complete disarmament and the future governance of Gaza — key elements still to be resolved.

President Trump revealed that the next step would be the creation of a “Council of Peace”, a governing body tasked with supervising Gaza’s postwar reconstruction and ensuring that stability endures. “People are going to be taken care of. It’s going to be a different world,” Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity. “I think, really, the Middle East came together.”

Reactions to Gaza’s future leadership remain sharply divided. Prime Minister Netanyahu has firmly rejected any role for the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless it undergoes “fundamental, genuine, and enduring reform.” Meanwhile, Hamas leaders have tried to assert influence, with senior official Osama Hamdan declaring that Gaza’s future administration must consist of “Palestinian national figures without Israeli interference.” Hamas has reportedly proposed a list of 40 candidates to govern the territory.

Despite lingering disputes, even critics now concede that Trump has done what no modern American president has achieved — bringing sworn enemies to the negotiating table and securing a framework for both peace and accountability.

This latest breakthrough represents a defining victory not only for Israel but also for the global war on terror. It reinforces Trump’s long-held belief that American strength, not appeasement, is the foundation of peace.

Trump’s firm hand, bold diplomacy, and unwavering defense of Israel’s right to exist have once again proven that leadership rooted in moral clarity can achieve what bureaucratic “peace talks” never could.

While details of the full 20-point peace plan remain under wraps, sources confirm it outlines a multi-phase strategy — including Hamas’s eventual disarmament, regional economic integration, and security guarantees for Israel.

For now, the world watches as history unfolds. From the rubble of terror, President Donald J. Trump has once again forged order out of chaos, fulfilling his pledge to deliver “peace through strength” and to protect the free world from the forces of radical extremism.

America stands with Israel.

Peace is coming to the Holy Land — because Trump made it happen.