Two years after the October 7th pogrom—the bloodiest day for Jews since the Holocaust—the terrorist group Hamas appears to have agreed to a peace deal advanced by President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages.
The agreement, reached in Sharm El-Sheikh with mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, is described by the White House as “a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting peace.” Trump took to Truth Social to declare:
This is a GREAT DAY for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America… Blessed are the peacemakers.
Trump praised the mediators—Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey—for their role in achieving what he described as a “Historic and Unprecedented Event.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the agreement as “a great day for Israel,” expressing gratitude to Trump and praising the courage of Israel Defense Forces soldiers whose determination, he said, made this moment possible. “With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” Netanyahu stated, referring to Israeli hostages.
The terrorist organization Hamas also confirmed it had accepted the U.S.-led deal. The agreement includes a ceasefire, the release of 48 hostages, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israeli sources emphasized that the return of both living and deceased hostages remains a moral obligation and a condition for the country’s full recovery.
Defense Minister Israel Katz called the agreement “a blessing” and praised Trump’s leadership, saying that “ courage, determination, and immense sacrifice brought us to this great moment.”
Trump was invited to attend the upcoming signing ceremony by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. In a message to Trump, Sisi said
It would be truly wonderful if, should an agreement be reached, you could attend its signing.
Critics of the deal point to the risk of Hamas prisoners released by Israel going on to reinforce the now-weakened terror organisation.
